Questioning Techniques for
Clinical Teaching
Saint Louis University
Reinert Center for Teaching Excellence
Clinical Teaching Committee
Darina Sargeant, PhD, PT
(Presentation based on TIPS-University of Kentucky, originally funded by the Kellogg’s
Foundation)
Questioning Techniques for
Clinical Teaching
OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this session and utilizing the
information presented, the participant will be able to:
1. Choose the questioning techniques that are most
appropriate for the setting, anticipated learner
outcome and orientation of the preceptor.
2. Recall the purpose, benefits and limitations of
questioning in the clinical environment.
3. Identify the procedures necessary for effectively
planning, conducting and evaluating success of
questioning techniques.
4. Apply these techniques to clinical setting.
Definitions
Instructional set
Opening minutes of the learning session
Presentation
Patient/pathology/interventions
Closure
Recap at end of the learning session
Questioning-Purpose in Clinic
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Determine learner mastery
Discover points of difficulty
Provide for application of knowledge
Stimulate learner thinking
Questioning-Instructional Set
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Gain attention
Arouse interest
Establish need for lesson
Present problems to be solved
Determine attitudes and interests
Evaluate student preparation
Determine strengths and weaknesses
Questioning-Instructional Set
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Your turn
• Take a minute to write a question to be
used in instructional set
• Check yourself
Questioning-Presentation
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Stimulate learner thinking
Develop points in the lesson
Revive and/or increase interest
Bring non-participants into discussion
Questioning-Presentation
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Sub-summarize major points of lesson
Focus attention
Encourage discussion
Questioning-Presentation
•
Your turn
• Take a minute to write a question to be
used in presentation
• Check yourself
Questioning-Closure
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Check for understanding
Locate areas where re-teaching
necessary
Help student to see application
Questioning-Closure
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Your turn
• Take a minute to write a question to be
used in closure
• Check yourself
Dynamics of Questioning
• Overhead question
• Direct question
• Skills/style
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phrasing and vocabulary
wait time/APC
delivery
getting answers
responding
Types of Questions
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Lead off
Follow up/Clarify
Check up
Rhetorical
Convergent/divergent
Throwback
Probing
Probing Questions
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Extension
Clarification
Justification
Prompting
Redirection
Types of Questions
•
Your turn
• Take a minute to write one of the following types of
question
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Lead off
Follow up/Clarify
Check up
Rhetorical
Convergent/divergent
Throwback
Probing
Check yourself
Questioning Techniques for Clinical
Teaching
Final thoughts
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Who should ask questions?
Why are questions useful in clinical teaching?
What are the various types of questions?
When are questions used?
Where should questions be used?
Questioning Techniques for
Clinical Teaching
OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this session and utilizing the
information presented, the participant will be able to:
1. Choose the questioning techniques that are most
appropriate for the setting, anticipated learner
outcome and orientation of the preceptor.
2. Recall the purpose, benefits and limitations of
questioning in the clinical environment.
3. Identify the procedures necessary for effectively
planning, conducting and evaluating success of
questioning techniques.
4. Apply these techniques to clinical setting.