4 steps to engaging students with effective questioning

Summary

In this video, host Glenn Wagner explores the art of questioning in the classroom. He emphasizes the importance of engaging all students, not just the eager few, by reframing questions to include wait time and opportunities for private sharing before public response. Wagner introduces four steps to enhance student participation and discusses the impact of question framing on class dynamics. Using role-play and examples, he illustrates how adjusting the way questions are asked can lead to a more dynamic and inclusive learning environment.

Takeaways

• 📚 Teachers commonly ask questions in class to check for understanding and engage students.
• 🤔 Asking questions can also be used to challenge students' existing knowledge and encourage deeper thinking.
• 🗣️ Research indicates that teachers ask up to 80% of the questions in a classroom, emphasizing the importance of how questions are framed.
• 🔄 Four steps are introduced to ensure all students can engage with the questions asked, rather than just a few enthusiastic participants.
• 🌟 The way questions are framed can significantly impact student participation and the classroom dynamic.
• 🕒 'Wait time', the pause between asking a question and expecting an answer, is crucial for allowing students to process and respond.
• 📈 Increasing wait time can lead to longer, more accurate answers, and a decrease in 'I don't know' responses.
• 👥 Encouraging students to share their thoughts privately with a partner before answering publicly can enhance engagement and understanding.
• 📈 Using Bloom's Taxonomy can help teachers gauge the level of thinking their questions will elicit and adjust wait time accordingly.
• 🔧 Reframing questions to include wait time and private sharing opportunities can lead to a more dynamic and participatory classroom environment.

Q & A

Why do teachers ask questions in the classroom according to the transcript?

Teachers ask questions in the classroom primarily to check for understanding and to engage students with the topic being studied. They also aim to challenge students' current knowledge to provoke thought and better answers.

What is the impact of how teachers frame their questions on student participation?

The way teachers frame their questions significantly impacts student participation. If questions are framed in a way that includes all students, it can lead to more engagement and participation compared to singling out a specific student.

What are the four steps Glenn Wagner suggests to engage all students with questions in the classroom?

The four steps suggested are: 1) Planning the question and the level of thinking it will elicit, 2) Considering the wait time based on the complexity of the question, 3) Providing opportunities for students to share privately before publicly, and 4) Holding students accountable by asking them to share publicly.

How does using Bloom's taxonomy help in framing questions for the classroom?

Using Bloom's taxonomy helps teachers to gauge the level of thinking their questions will provoke, which in turn affects the amount of wait time and the complexity of the answers expected from students.

What is the recommended wait time for students to absorb a question and formulate an answer according to the research mentioned?

Research suggests that teachers should give their students between 3 to 5 seconds or longer to absorb a question and formulate an answer to increase the length and correctness of responses and to encourage more volunteers.

Why is extending wait time before students answer questions considered important for psychological safety?

Extending wait time allows students to think and formulate answers in their own minds, which contributes to a feeling of safety and the confidence to participate, as it accommodates different processing speeds among students.

What does sharing privately mean in the context of classroom questioning, and why is it beneficial?

Sharing privately means having students discuss their answers with a peer before sharing publicly. This is beneficial as it allows students to test their understanding, correct misunderstandings, and feel more confident in their answers before presenting them to the whole class.

How can teachers hold students accountable for their answers after giving them wait time and opportunities to share privately?

Teachers can hold students accountable by asking them to share their answers publicly after they have had the chance to think and discuss privately, ensuring that each student is prepared to present their understanding of the question.

What is the purpose of reframing questions in the classroom as suggested by Glenn Wagner?

Reframing questions is intended to create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment where all students have the opportunity to participate, think critically, and feel confident in their ability to answer.

How does the approach to questioning outlined in the transcript contribute to a dynamic and interesting classroom?

The approach contributes to a dynamic and interesting classroom by encouraging active participation, critical thinking, and a safe environment for students to express their thoughts, which can lead to more productive discussions and deeper understanding of the subject matter.