THE ART OF QUESTIONING

THE ART OF QUESTIONING

Purpose for Asking
Questions
o assessing cognition
o verification
o creative thinking
o
evaluating
o
productive
thinking
o motivating
o instructing

Uses of Questions
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Soliciting

Directing

Evaluating

stimulate thinking
motivate
diagnose difficulties
discover interests
help organize and evaluate
relate pertinent experiences to the lesson
focus attention to the key points of the
lesson
develop new appreciations and attitudes
provide drill and practice
show relationships, such as cause and
effect
encourage the application of concepts
encourage peer evaluation

Types of Questions
Asks for information:
Which of the materials conduct energy?
Proposes the course of action to take
Guides one in thinking of an alternative
How can you reach the town one hour
earlier?
How can an electromagnet be made stronger?
Calls for weighing evidences or assessing the effect of some factors
or condition

Why did the insects die in a tightly-closed container?

Why do wet clothes dry faster on a sunny day?
Educ312 Principles of Teaching 2

MJCGalvez

THE ART OF QUESTIONING

Responding Asks for something be done
Which part of a book will you consult for the meaning of
some terms?
What should you do so that you will get the correct answer
in doing math word problems?

A good question is
1. Simple and clear
2. Definite
3. Challenging and thought provoking
4. Adapted to the age, abilities, and interests of the
students
5. Require an extended response

Techniques of Questioning:
1. Questions should be asked in a natural and well-modulated voice.
2. A teacher should ask the question first and then wait for the class to think
about it before calling on a student to answer the question(s).
3. A sufficient number of questions should be asked to stimulate students to
activity
4. A teacher should refrain from repeating questions.
5. Questions should be evenly distributed so that the majority of the pupils
can take part in the discussion.
6. A teacher should avoid resorting to any mechanical system of fielding
questions to the class (alphabetical order, row by row).
7. A teacher should ask questions that are really interesting and thought
provoking.
8. Teachers should have their own style of questioning
Educ312 Principles of Teaching 2

MJCGalvez

THE ART OF QUESTIONING

9. Teachers increase their repertoire of type of questions
10. Teachers provide cues:
a. Acknowledging the correct part of the answer and calling attention
to the wrong portion
b. Supplying hints or tips
c. Immediately asking another question to clarify the former
d. Redirecting and refocusing

Handling students responses

1. A teacher should make every effort to show an appreciative
attitude toward student answers.
2. A teacher should never allow wrong answers to slip by;
otherwise the students will learn wrong facts and
concepts.
3. Correct answers of students should be followed with
encouraging remarks by the teacher.
4. Clarity in every point expressed by the students should be insisted upon by the
teacher.
5. Answering in concert should be discouraged.
6. A teacher should encourage students to answer in a loud and clear voice.
7. Students should be encouraged to answer in complete thought units and
grammatically correct statements.
8. Teachers should refrain from marking the students in their record book during
class recitation.

Handling students questions

1. Student questions should be welcomed by a teacher.
2. A teacher should not answer a student question right away.

3. Indiscriminate student questions should not be allowed.

Educ312 Principles of Teaching 2

MJCGalvez

THE ART OF QUESTIONING

Encouraging students to ask questions

1. Praise correctly formulated questions.
2. Attend to their questions.
3. Allot an appropriate time slot for open questioning.
____________
References:
1.
Acero et al. Principles and Strategies of Teaching (pp. 201-216)
2.
Corpuz & Salandanan. Principles and Strategies of Teaching (pp. 110-115)

Educ312 Principles of Teaching 2

MJCGalvez