THE ART OF THE ART OF QUESTIONINGQUESTIONING

Dr. Nicolas T. CapulongDr. Nicolas T. Capulong

Assistant Schools Division Assistant Schools Division SuperintendentSuperintendent

IntroductionIntroduction

One of the teaching tools One of the teaching tools conveniently placed in the hands of a conveniently placed in the hands of a teacher is the questions. And yet teacher is the questions. And yet many teachers either use it many teachers either use it carelessly or fail to see its carelessly or fail to see its possibilities for promoting effective possibilities for promoting effective learning.learning.

UsesUses1.1. To stimulate students to thinkTo stimulate students to think2.2. To motivate studentsTo motivate students

– Questions can be used effectively to arouse and hold the interest of Questions can be used effectively to arouse and hold the interest of pupilspupils

3. 3. To diagnose pupil difficultiesTo diagnose pupil difficulties4.4. To discover pupil interestTo discover pupil interest5.5. To develop the ability to evaluate and organize materials or To develop the ability to evaluate and organize materials or

experiences.experiences.– Will students to see relationships among data and to formulate Will students to see relationships among data and to formulate

conclusionsconclusions6. 6. To aid students relate pertinent experiences to the lesson.To aid students relate pertinent experiences to the lesson.7.7. To focus pupil attention on the points of the lesson.To focus pupil attention on the points of the lesson.

– It helps students organize their thinking about a lesson in a logical It helps students organize their thinking about a lesson in a logical way.way.

8.8. To develop new appreciations and attitudesTo develop new appreciations and attitudes– Questions can be used to help pupils modify, clarify or expand ideas Questions can be used to help pupils modify, clarify or expand ideas

relating to appreciations and attitudes.relating to appreciations and attitudes.9.9. To provide drill or practice.To provide drill or practice.10.10. To show relationship, such as cause & effect.To show relationship, such as cause & effect.11.11. To encourage the application of concepts.To encourage the application of concepts.

Characteristics of a Good Characteristics of a Good QuestionQuestion

1.1. It is simple and clearIt is simple and clear2.2. It is definiteIt is definite

– Permits one answerPermits one answer

3.3. It is challenging & thought – provokingIt is challenging & thought – provoking– It stimulates students to compare, It stimulates students to compare,

evaluate, draw conclusions & appraise evaluate, draw conclusions & appraise results.results.

4.4. It is adopted to the age, abilities and It is adopted to the age, abilities and interests of the students.interests of the students.

5.5. It requires on extends responseIt requires on extends response

Techniques of Questioning Techniques of Questioning – questioning requires – questioning requires skillsskills

1.1. Questions should be asked in a natural and well – Questions should be asked in a natural and well – modulated voice.modulated voice.

2.2. A teacher should ask the question first & then wait for A teacher should ask the question first & then wait for the class to think about it before calling on a student to the class to think about it before calling on a student to answer the question.answer the question.

3.3. A sufficient number of questions should be asked to A sufficient number of questions should be asked to stimulate students to activity.stimulate students to activity.

4.4. A teacher should refrain from repeating questions. (to A teacher should refrain from repeating questions. (to challenge attention)challenge attention)

5.5. Questions should be evenly distributed so that the Questions should be evenly distributed so that the majority of the pupils can take part in the discussion.majority of the pupils can take part in the discussion.

6.6. A teacher should avoid starting to any mechanical A teacher should avoid starting to any mechanical system of fielding question to the class, such as system of fielding question to the class, such as alphabetical order, row by row etc.alphabetical order, row by row etc.

7.7. A teacher should ask questions that are really A teacher should ask questions that are really interesting and thought – provoking.interesting and thought – provoking.

Techniques in Handling Techniques in Handling Students ResponseStudents Response

1.1. A teacher should make every effort to show on A teacher should make every effort to show on appreciative attitude towards students’ answers.appreciative attitude towards students’ answers.

– The teacher should refrain from giving sarcastic The teacher should refrain from giving sarcastic comments to wrong answer.comments to wrong answer.

2.2. A teacher should never allow wrong answers slip by.A teacher should never allow wrong answers slip by.3.3. Correct answers of students should be followed with Correct answers of students should be followed with

encouraging remarks by the teacher.encouraging remarks by the teacher.4.4. Clearness in every point expressed by the students Clearness in every point expressed by the students

should be insisted upon by the teacher.should be insisted upon by the teacher.5.5. Answering in concert should be discouraged.Answering in concert should be discouraged.6.6. A teacher should be encouraged to answer in a loud and A teacher should be encouraged to answer in a loud and

clear voice.clear voice.7.7. Students should be encouraged to answer in complete Students should be encouraged to answer in complete

thought units and grammatically correct statements.thought units and grammatically correct statements.8.8. A teacher should refrain from making the students in his A teacher should refrain from making the students in his

record book during the class recitation.record book during the class recitation.

Techniques in Handling Techniques in Handling Student’s QuestionsStudent’s Questions

1.1. Student’s questions should be Student’s questions should be encouraged by a teacher.encouraged by a teacher.

2.2. A teacher should not answer a student A teacher should not answer a student question right away.question right away.

3.3. Indiscriminate student questions should Indiscriminate student questions should not be allowed.not be allowed.

4.4. A teacher should require students to A teacher should require students to form grammatically correct questions.form grammatically correct questions.

5.5. If a teacher is asked questions he cannot If a teacher is asked questions he cannot answer he should promptly admit his answer he should promptly admit his