This session examines how teachers can use effective questions to ensure comprehension, as well as strengthen and deepen learner thinking skills.
Participants will apply concept checking questions and strategies in small group role plays, while also reviewing the content of the previous sessions.
There are many frameworks to categorize questions, but an effective way is to think about LOTS (Lower Order Thinking Skills: Remember, Understand) and HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills: Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Synthesize and Create) based on Bloom's taxonomy, and then whether these are open or closed questions.
Asking 'Do you understand?' does not really tell a teacher much! Learners say often 'yes' because they think they understand, although they don't; they don't want to disappoint the teacher; they don't want to appear 'stupid' in front of their peers, or they want to move onto a new topic. Questions allow teachers to check understanding, as well as deepen learner engagement.
Concept Questions:
'Bed-Sit' (UK) Studio/Bachelor Suite (North America)
Yes/no questions: Is a bed-sit a room?, Are there other rooms in the house?, Can you sleep in it?
Either/Or: Is it a room or a building?, Is it cheap or expensive?, Do you buy it or pay money every week or month?
Information questions: Who lives in it?, How many people live in it?
Discrimination questions: Do you only sleep in it?, Can you cook a meal in it?, Is it the same as a flat?
Shared experience questions: Is there a bed-sit in this building?
Life experience/culture questions: Have you ever lived in a bed-sit? Are there bed-sits in your city/country?
Another way of constructing concept questions is by writing a sentence containing all the elements of the concept, from which questions can be formed. These are useful for tense.
He's been eating garlic. Concept: He isn't eating garlic now, and I didn't see him eating it, but I know he was eating garlic because I can smell it.
Harry's been working here for two years. Concept: He started working here two years ago, he's still working here, and he'll probably continue working here.
Adapted from: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/checking-understanding
Instruction Checking/Classroom Management:
Who can tell me what the next activity is?
What pages are you going to read for homework?
How many people are you working with for this task?
What time are we finished this activity?
Critical Thinking:
Questions with no right or wrong answers, but which encourage exploration of possibilities. Requires both concrete and abstract thinking to arrive at an appropriate response
What might happen if ..?
How would X have been different if..
If you were.. what would you do?
Higher Order:
Questions/Tasks which require learners to critically think about concepts and the relationships between them, as well as apply what they have learned.
Ex: Language Learning.
Application: How would you apply this idea in X situation? Based on the reading, how could you improve your English skills?
Analysis: Is X the same as Y? Why or why not? Is learning your first language the same as learning an additional language?
Evaluation: Which is more suitable X or Y? Why? Do you think listening to music or watching videos is more beneficial for you to learn a language?
Synthesis: How can we use ideas from both X and Y?
Create: Based on the reading on learning a language, and your knowledge of your aptitudes and interests, create a self-study plan with three goals. It should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound). We will check in once a week in small groups to determine your progress.
Using questions effectively: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/question-techniques-strategies
Helping learners become effective at creating questions: https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/51186/how-helping-students-to-ask-better-questions-can-transform-classrooms?fbclid=IwAR09GOq10jyxMIxIPketm5dAP5AacRLKMrRuHkQn8ax7LoVCA0o-CQLAHu0
Creative methods of checking comprehension: https://busyteacher.org/14912-how-to-check-comprehension-10-creative-ways.html
Critical thinking questions: https://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/48-critical-thinking-questions-any-content-area/?fbclid=IwAR2KIcppdQSOmUMxk-AfTNUO8ZIBI6_SJK-lApYa3Z7PINzyPoYZThY8jbk
Games for critical thinking: https://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/10-team-building-games-that-promote-critical-thin