Learning intentions
• Know and understand that effective questioning is a
powerful tool for learning
• Consider ways to generate questions for students
• Be aware of strategies for effective questioning in the
classroom
Some starter questions
• Do you ask students to come up with their own ideas
and to think aloud?
• Do you encourage your students to explain the reasons
for their answers?
• Do they get the opportunity to ask their own questions?
• Is it okay to give a ‘wrong’ answer in your classroom?
• Is everybody’s opinion valued by everyone?
Climate for learning
• Risk-taking culture
• Community of inquiry
• Commitment to learning for all
Activity 1
Answering the big questions
What was the purpose of your questioning during that lesson?
How did you respond to the answers the students gave?
Why do we ask questions?
• To manage and organise
students’ behaviour
• To structure a task for
maximum learning
• To find out what students
know
• To identify, diagnose difficulties
or blocks to learning
• To stimulate interest in a
new topic
• To stimulate students to ask
questions
• To focus on an issue or
topic
• To give students opportunity to
assimilate, reflect and learn
through discussion
What is effective questioning?
Framing, delivering, timing, soliciting and responding to
questions to
• Identify where students are currently in their learning
• Expand and deepen the learning
• Inform planning for future learning
Classroom strategies
Ask better questions
• Ask fewer questions
• Ask more ‘open’ questions
• Sequence questions
• Prepare key questions
Classroom strategies
Ask questions in a better way
• Involve the whole class
• Think, pair, share
• Provide think time
• Try ‘no hands up’
Classroom strategies
Deal with answers productively
• Use wrong answers to develop understanding
• Prompt students
• Listen and respond positively
Classroom strategies
Generate students’ questions
• Model questioning for students
• Provide opportunities for students to practice their skills
• Plan time for students’ questions and for dealing with
them effectively
Key messages
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Establishing the right climate is crucial
See the classroom as a community of inquiry
Share the role of questioner with the student
Effective questioning is designed to
- identify the present level of understanding
- extend and deepen learning
- inform future planning
Key messages
• Effective questioning contributes to
- improving classroom ethos/environment
- instilling the skills needed for independent learning
- supporting the development of Key Skills: Managing
Information and thinking, Being creative, and Working with
others
Planning for questioning (Adapted from E .C. Wragg)
Identify the key questions in relation to the learning intentions for the
lesson
Decide on the level, order and timing of questions
Extend the questioning - thinking of subsidiary questions to ask
Analyse anticipated answers and responses you might give