Reading and Reflection:
1 hr
Class Activity & preparation: 1hr
30mins
Group Activity: 1 hr
Reflection: 30 mins
4 hrs
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?
Group
Activity 11
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 a message to your group (using the subject heading "Contrast_lesson") saying 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.
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