1. Mechanics2. Generating

Questions3. Curiosity

culture4. Reflection

Quality Questioning

for Learning

‘Hands up’ classroom cultureWhy not?

Too many pupils will choose not to volunteer.

Allowing pupils to choose increases the achievement gap between the highest and the lowest achieving pupils.

The intelligence of pupils is actually increased by actively taking part in discussion.

Why do it?Perceived time

constraints.Don’t want to

embarrass pupils who don’t know the answer.

Helps teacher feel successful.

(Subconscious) avoidance of need to address wrong answers and slow the pace.

‘No hands up’ classroom culture -except to ASK a question!Advantages:Increases pupil

engagement dramatically: they must listen!

Teachers can ensure the participation of all pupils in every lesson.

Teachers can better assess the understanding and progress of all pupils.

Pupils learn better when they vocalise answers and ideas for themselves.

Disadvantages:Eye contact clues:

develop strategies to avoid this.

Teachers subconsciously choose the strongest pupils who will give the correct answer.

Teachers tend to ask low-level questions which do little to move learning forward or promote thinking.

‘Randomising’ questionsWhat if they can’t answer?Lollypop stick goes

back in the bag so they can answer another question

‘Tag’ or ‘Phone’ a friend.

Ask the audience.

Ideas:Numbered lollypop

sticks (numbers either on desks or books).

Throw an object (e.g. dice) and whoever catches, answers.

Pass the bomb – different lengths of time – if it ‘explodes’, they answer.

High quality questions promote thinking.Thinking takes time: ‘wait time’.

When teachers pause after asking a question, more pupils participate in class discussion, answers are longer and of higher quality.

Wait time 1: the teacher asks a question and pauses before hearing an answer.

Wait time 2: the teacher hears the answer and pauses again.

Wait time: a minimum of 3 to 5 seconds.

Wait time is not wasted time, so why doesn’t it happen?

Quick-fire question/answer sessions make us feel like we’re achieving great pace.

Silence can be uncomfortable.Impatience (teacher and some pupils)The teacher may not realise he/she isn’t giving

wait time.‘Wait time 2’ may not happen because many

teachers immediately provide the answer themselves if the first answer given is incomplete or incorrect, rather than probing further or inviting other pupils to contribute more information or comment on the answer already given.

How long do you wait after asking a question?

What do you do if the pupil you ask gives an answer which is incomplete or

incorrect?Do you ask some pupils

questions you know they will get right ?

When you ask a question, do you have the ‘right answer’ ready in your head?

Good questions are hard to generate.• Teachers

plan the content of their lessons.

• Could a lesson plan instead consist of a sequence of well- planned questions?

Different types of questions:Abstract or concrete (i.e. is there a ‘right’

answer?)Leading or open to interpretationOpen or closedQuestions for clarificationChallenging questions (evaluative, creative,

comparison)Serial questions (that get progressively more

challenging and/or encourage a variety of thinking skills)

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Resources to choose fromPlanning Questions – ideas:Bookmarks for teacher’s plannersFan (for use with planning or in lessons)Pack of cards

Planning methods of response – for planning/student use:SpinnerCards

We’ve created a pack for Sandra to use for each resource – if you would like one, place

your order.

Establishing curiosity as the norm – THIS WILL HELP BUILD EFFECTIVE SIXTH FORMERS!Questioner of the day/week – house-point/reward cardCash for questions – whole class – list questions and then

they can ‘buy’ questions from other students if it will help them get the answer.

‘Bounce’ the question/response around the class to improve the question/explain/offer the alternative

Response cards – agree/disagree/it’s a poor questionQuestion tokens – each student has two question

tokens/cards that they MUST use by the end of the lesson. (Extension?)

Guess the marks – given five exam/test questions and rank the questions according to Bloom’s taxonomy or higher vs lower order questions.

PARENT-LED – ‘What questions did you ask today?’

Reflection