020 - Asking the Right Kinds of Questions

As teachers, we ask a lot of questions.

What’s the first note?
What’s your hand position?
Which finger plays the black key?
What kind of note do we sing in m. 8?
Are these notes stepping or skipping?

But, did you know there are different kinds of questions (or ways of asking questions) that can actually promote learning?

A good question does more than assess student learning or mastery of a concept; it can actually foster a deeper level of understanding, open a space for productive dialogue, and promote self-reflection.

Today, I want to spend some time talking about how to ask the right kinds of questions in teaching: the ones that cultivate rich learning experiences, develop deeper understanding of a skill or concept, and lead students to begin asking questions of their own.

For show notes + full transcript, click here.

Related resources:

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through some of these links.

5 Powerful Questions Teachers Can Ask Students by Rebecca Alber

Asking Questions: Six Types from the Centre for Teaching Excellence at the University of Waterloo

Using Effective Questions from the Center for Teaching Innovation at Cornell University

The Power of Questioning: Opening Up the World of Student Inquiry by Starr Sackstein

Learning to Question, Questioning to Learn: A Guide to Developing Effective Teacher Questioning Practices by Marylou Dantonio and Paul C. Beisenherz

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