Blog Post #4

What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?

My initial reaction to this question was confusion. I didn't know if I was supposed to put myself in the position of the student or the teacher. After putting myself in the position of the teacher I realized that questions are more important than the answers. Questions are what make you think, and thinking is what helps you learn. After reading the link by Ben Johnson, The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom, I found it very interesting and I loved how the author was blunt and honest. The author said that we, as teachers, need to understand that we do not know everything. "Does everybody understand?" is a question that I have heard multiple times as a student in the classroom. To me this is a pointless question because students do not normally speak up even when they have a question. I agree with the author that asking that question is practically saying, "Ok, here is your last chance. If you don't ask any questions, then you understand completely, and I am free to go on to the next subject"(Ben Johnson, "The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom"). When asking a direct question to the classroom, a teacher does not need to have the students raise their hands to answer. I agree with the author on the questioning strategy researched by Mary Budd Rowe. She proposed that teachers simply ask a question, pause for 3 seconds, and then call on a random student to answer. This questioning strategy is a way to be an effective teacher because it allows all of your students to have a turn. By calling on students the teacher can see who knows what and notice if some students need extra help.

After reading the link, Asking Questions to Improve Learning, I learned strategies for asking questions and ways to respond to them. It is very important to ask students questions that are clear and specific. I strongly agree with the point made in this blog that when you plan each class session include notes of when you will pause to ask and answer questions. This is very important so the students can interact and the teacher can make sure the class understands and see what needs improving. The way a teacher responds to a student's answer is very important. A teacher should never interrupt a student trying to deliver an answer. Teachers should always let students give their full response before engaging. Hearing the full response of a student will allow the teacher to hear their ideas and know what they do and don't understand. Teachers should always encourage students no matter if their answer is right or wrong. Smiling and nodding at the student when they are delivering an answer is a perfect way to encourage them. When a student answers a question incorrect, point out what is incorrect about their answer, and ask a follow up question that will lead the student to the correct answer. This resource also gives great reasons as to why teachers should ask open ended questions in the classroom. Open ended questions prompt students to explore attitudes, values, or feelings. They also allow students to ask and predict possible outcomes and illustrate a concept with an example. At the end of this resource it explains how to refine your questions as a teacher. After teaching a class session you should take notes on the questions that were asked and decide which ones were the most effective.

After learning from the following resources I believe we can answer the initial question, "What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?" There are multiple things that teachers should know about asking questions to be an effective teacher. Teachers should always make sure that each student is getting a turn to answer a question. How we as teachers respond to an answer is very important. Teachers should never make their students feel uncomfortable especially if they respond to a question wrong. As a future teacher, learning how to ask questions to be an effective teacher is very important.