View source for Effective Questioning Strategies in the Classroom

='''Introduction'''=
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''Imagine this...it is the first day of a new unit and you are sitting in your classroom with all of your other classmates. You seem to be focused on the kid tapping their pencil next to you, and the kid kicking their foot against their desk, and everything else going on in the classroom except for what you should be focusing on. You hear some of what your teacher is saying, but lose focus once again because of the monotone sounding voice and the continuous lecturing from the teacher. What is this lesson even about, you wonder? How can you be more engaged in this lesson? Your learning seems to be only in the hands of the teacher, what can you do?''

''Now, imagine this...it is the first day of a new unit and you are sitting in your classroom with all of your other classmates. The teacher immediately catches your interest with the topic you will be learning about and you can't wait to share some of the things you already know about outer-space. Everyone is interacting and engaged with the instructor and other participating students. The questions are thought-provoking and ideas are being shared and taken into account for further exploration. Even if you lose focus for a moment, the teacher asks another question to grab your attention once more. You are back on the track for learning again. The questions are all based around the unit and curriculum material for the day, and you feel that your participation has not only added to your own personal way of learning, but that the class as a whole has learned something meaningful and valuable to their thinking and learning as well. You think to yourself, this is what learning should always be!''

Questions in the classroom are the foundation of education and the learning process. Effective questioning strategies provide the stimulus for a deep-level of understanding and problem-solving. By using questions learners are more engaged and motivated, while at the same time provided with new insights and ideas about the material being learned.

This course was designed to expose students to the benefits of using effective questioning strategies in the classroom. The course has been split up into four units. The first detailing ''the purpose of using effective questioning strategies in the classroom'', the second explores the ''ways in which questions be used in the classroom'',the third discusses the ''demands of questioning on the student and the teacher'', and the fourth and final unit explores if ''effective questioning strategies are being properly implemented in the classroom on a regular basis.''

The goal of this course is to provide learners with the tools they need to be effective classroom teachers and facilitators. While there are many approaches to teaching and learning, few have proved to be as successful as using questioning strategies in the classroom. By questioning students, teachers push learners to use higher order thinking skills and critical thought to problem-solve, as well as the tools necessary for productive learning and becoming a THINKER in everyday life.


'''To begin the course, start with Unit One and proceed all the way through to the end of Unit Four:'''

=='''[[image:pencilbullet.gif]][[Unit One: The purpose of using effective questioning strategies in the classroom]]'''==

=='''[[image:pencilbullet.gif]][[Unit Two: In what ways can questions be used in the classroom? ]]'''==

=='''[[image:pencilbullet.gif]][[Unit Three: What are the demands of questioning on the student and the teacher?]]'''==

=='''[[image:pencilbullet.gif]][[Unit Four: Are effective questioning strategies being properly implemented in the classroom on a regular basis?]]'''==

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[[Category: Effective teaching and learning]]
[[Category: Dialogic teaching]]
[[Category: Higher-order thinking]]
[[Category: Early learning]]

[[Category: Elementary grades]]

[[Category: Middle school]]

[[Category: High school]]

[[Category: K-12]]
[[Category: College education]]