Standard+4.3.2

=Use effective questioning techniques to engage students in lively, sustained discussion structured around key content and ideas. =


 * [|NSWIT Observation 4.3.2] **

For some time I have been interested in different questioning techniques and how these can be used to help students formulate and clarify ideas. In order to achieve this I often take the route of asking questions that encourage students to explain, sometimes common, observations. It is often at this point that students recognize that they don’t really understand exactly what is going on.

I also find that often couching specific ideas in real life scenarios (although often embellished) engages students as they become a part of the story experience. Using the tent incident as related in my article “[|SEN Primary Conference Report]” The discussion not only brought in ideas concerning the water cycle (the topic under investigation) but it then went on to suggest that students design a tent which would not have this condensation problem. This authentic, problem based learning activity was also explored by the students.