The purpose of this activity
is to think about ways in which you, the teacher, can encourage
your learners to ask questions.
You have already considered
the value of open questions to encourage learners to think.
You have also read that critical thinkers ask questions.
How can we encourage this spirit of inquiry in our learners?
Activity
Use your e-diary
to record your thoughts about encouraging learners
to ask questions.
One way to encourage learners to
ask questions is to show them two things (e.g. pictures,
photographs) which contrast strongly (are very different
from each other). The contrast often causes strong
feelings of discomfort or curiosity. These feelings
stimulate the learner to ask questions. We recommend
that you read about this idea of using
contrast to stimulate thinking.
Think of an example of how you
can use this technique in a lesson that you are due
to teach in the next few days. Plan your lesson in
such a way that you can try your idea.
Did the contrasting items
stimulate the learners to ask questions?
If not, why not?
Were the items perhaps too
difficult to understand?
Were you, the teacher, receptive
to being questioned?
Please note that this strategy
of using contrast is only one way of stimulating learners
to ask questions. You may have thought of many
other strategies. In fact you may be using such
strategies regularly.
Write e-mail
to the groupsaying
how your learners responded to this lesson. Briefly describe the
lesson that you did. Don't
forget to give feedback to others.
Use
your e-diary to record your thoughts
about this activity.
Site
Map
