Aligning Questioning Strategies with Learning Goals

How instructors see their role as educators is key to initiating exploration and discussion. Being an “entertainer” or “sage on the stage” has its place in science learning, but it’s important to see the advantages of being a “guide on the side,” who inspires students to explore the world and to encourage talk about science ideas.

In this session, we explore typical roles instructors can take when asking and answering questions, and how taking on these roles can either draw out student questions or, in the extreme, shut them down. At the end of the session, take part in an Activity Lab to apply some of the strategies learned to your instruction.

This session is adapted from the BEETLES session, Questioning Strategies, and builds on the session Questions to Encourage Exploration & Discussion.

Participation in Questions to Encourage Exploration & Discussion is not required to attend this session, though we do recommend completing a brief pre-reading.