Blog Post #4

Asking Questions: What questions do we ask? How do we ask?

The effective way of asking questions is open-ended, closed-ended, and Bloom's Taxonomy. Open-ended questions clarify a vague comment, assess learning, explore attitudes, refine a statement, allow students to respond to each other.  Close-ended questions test retention and comprehension. Bloom's Taxonomy identifies cognitive progresses and ordered level of complexity involved. Remember to ask specific questions to ensure the students' understanding, randomly call student's names, generate a list of questions, and propose a question that gets the students thinking.  Give students a moment to think of the direct question. The responses to open-ended questions will get students brain storming and provide specific details about the topic.  The teacher can listen, engage, and check for comprehension. Close ended questions will allow a student to respond with yes or no.  The  Bloom's Taxonomy, by Benjamin Johnson provides questions to gather retention and another way of thinking. Students use think pair share questions to demonstrate clarity.  I found these methods very helpful, when getting the classroom engaged in assessing learning, supporting assertion and interpretations of the materials.

I would like to use opened ended questions in my classroom.   Open-ended questions is a very effective way to see how the student think and value information.  Ask effective questions to measure and improve student learning.  When we ask closed-ended questions students answer quick and give a limited response.  Questions are important and help us learn to critical think.

Asking better questions deeper learning by Ben Johnson