Ravens Wood School
Mathematics Department
Types of Questioning There are five main types of questions. These are: OPEN CLOSED HYPOTHETICAL PROBING REFLECTIVE An open question allows you to obtain lots of information from a mentee. It makes the mentee think and reflect on the question asked, helping to give a sense of their overall feeling on the situation at hand. For example: “What part of this topic do you struggle most in?” A closed question is normally answered quickly and with short answers, thus allowing you to keep control of the conversation. The mentor can home in on the mentee’s problem. For example a question as simple as, “Do you know how to tackle this question?” or “Are you having problems with this integration?” A hypothetical question is used to encourage a mentee to try a different way of dealing with situations, for example, “What would have happened if …” A probing question allows you to get closer the root of the problems. By continuously digging at the subject of choice, you can narrow down the problems and then from there, move forward to address it. For example: “That sounds like a challenge, how did that make you feel?” Reflective questioning is very good for understanding how well the session has gone. You can use these questions at any time but it is most effective at the end of a session or problem as it allows the mentee to reflect over what has happened. For example: “How do you think our session went today?” or “Is there anything you would like to go back over next time?” or “What went well for you today?” 20 August 2012
Ravens Wood School
Mathematics Department
Observer Review Sheet Run Number: _______ Which of the following styles of questioning have been used effectively? Question Types Yes/No
Open Closed Probing Hypothetical Reflective What Went Well Even Better If 20 August 2012
Ravens Wood School
Mathematics Department
Observer Review Sheet Run Number: _______ Which of the following styles of questioning have been used effectively? Question Types Yes/No
Open Closed Probing Hypothetical Reflective What Went Well Even Better If 20 August 2012
Ravens Wood School
Mathematics Department
Observer Review Sheet Run Number: _______ Which of the following styles of questioning have been used effectively? Question Types Yes/No
Open Closed Probing Hypothetical Reflective What Went Well Even Better If 20 August 2012