“ Children go to school as question marks and leave school as periods”- Neil Postman
The kind of question we ask our students determine the level of thinking we develop. Low level questions require simple recall or memory type of answers. It employs the there (3) W- Questions, what, where and when. Example, what causes acid rain? Where was Rizal born? When is the independence day of the Philippines?
Higher level questions call for higher order thinking skills. The “why” and “how” questions require analysis of observation. The answer or conclusion is arrived after weighing evidence or establishing a pattern out of the data presented. For example, Why do we have El Nino phenomenon? How does a tornado occur?
There are different types of question according purpose:
- For Assessing Cognition- this type of question is used to determine ones knowledge in understanding.
- For Verification-determines the exactness and accuracy of the results of an activity.
- For Creative Thinking- it probes into one’s originality
- For evaluating- it elicits responses that include judgments, value and choice.
- For productive Thinking- It includes cognitive reasoning, analysis of facts and invokes memory and recall.
To improve our questioning technique, we can try the following suggestions:
- Have your own style of questioning
- Request others to critique your own style
- Have a repertoire of types of questions
- Consider individual abilities and interests of your learners
- Reflect on the type of questions you ask
The teacher’s reaction to students inquisitiveness can motivate or de-motivate
students from asking more questions.
By: John R. Quiroz Head | Teacher-III | Limay National High School
