Questions

Nonproductive Questions

classroom control

rhetorical

Are we ready?

quiz-type

from memory

What is this?

Productive Questions

Attention focusing

student supplied

What do you think of that?

Problem-posing

Give a challenge they work out

How can you...?

Action

Lead to investigation

What happens if..?

comparison

Attention to patterns

What is the same?

Measuring and counting

Quantitative comparison

How much?

Question Form

Open

extended answer

interest in observations

What do you notice?

Closed

short answer

needed information

Do you see...?

Person-centered

students' idea

no right or wrong

What do you think?

Subject-centered

content

right or wrong answer

what is...?

Question Function

finding out students ideas and
developing their understanding

help students develop
their understanding

Why do you think?

encouraging use
of inquiry skills

raising questions

What do you
want to know?

encouraging group
collaboration & sharing

exchanging ideas

which idea is best?

encouraging
reflection

review before
moving on

What have
you found?

Lesson Planning

engage

captures interest

explore

cooperative
learning task

explain

formal
intro

elaborate

extend
understanding

evaluate

assessment

Allowing time
for answering

giving students
time to work
through the answer

Comments
expressed
as questions

Not looking for
a direct answer

expresses
interest

How did it get
there?

philosophical

Not a direct
answer

expresses
interest

Why do mosquitos
exist?

Requests for
simply facts

Sometimes
has a direct
answer but
not always

Wanting more
information

How many
birds were in
the nest?

Can be found
through inquiry

can be answered
through observations
and actions

opportunity for
student to
investigate

What happens if...?

too complex
to understand

Cannot be
answered
simply

turn the question
to a simpler one

Why's the sky blue?