In-Class Ideas

Role of Questions in Learning

What is the Purpose of Questions in Teaching and Learning?

“Questions may be the most powerful technology we have ever created. Questions and questioning allow us to make sense of a confusing world. They are the tools that lead to insight and understanding.” (Jamie McKenzie)

Keep in mind: Questions are an essential part of learning and Questions are a popular instructional strategy that teachers use.

Questions typically serve a range of purposes, namely to:

  • To encourage students to participate
  • To determine what students know and don’t know
  • To engage students in discussion
  • To attract students’ attention
  • To provide students with an opportunity to share their knowledge, opinions or feelings
  • To assess students’ level of understanding
  • To provide a review of content
  • To develop critical and creative thinking skills

To learn more:  Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Design Questions (PDF)

Teachers Typically Ask Recall Questions – What does this Mean?

In one study, Gall (1984) found that about 60 percent of teacher’s questions require factual recall, about 20 percent are procedural in nature, while only about 20 percent require students to actually think. In short, most teacher questions are “lower order” in that they require only recall or comprehension on the part of students. We know that a primary goal of education is to teach our students to think critically and creatively. In order to achieve this goal, you need to ensure the questions you ask do, in fact,  make students ‘think’. The types of questions we ask students make a difference.

Low level questions require remembering, observing, or translating and are classified in the categories of knowledge, comprehension  and application. Most of us use questions that are in the these categories, but we should be placing greater emphasis on the higher order skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. In today’s work world, these thinking skills have become increasingly essential.

What can Teachers do to Improve their Questioning Skills?

  1. Consider the kinds of questions you ask students, are the questions you ask predominantly recall? Factual? Or questions that ask students to compare, classify or contrast?
  2. How many of your questions demand deeper thinking of your students? Do some self-monitoring to more accurately know the frequency and types of questions you ask.

Consider the following:

  • What kinds of questions do I seem to be asking the most?
  • Do students feel safe to respond to my questions?
  • Do I usually end up answering my own questions?
  • Do my questions require students to consider “big ideas” or issues of 
substance?
  • Do my questions require students to generate their own ideas?
  • To consider alternative points-of-view?
  • When you ask a question, how long do you wait for a student response? Do you repeat the question too quickly? Or perhaps answer the question yourself without giving students adequate time to think and respond. Allow for more ‘wait time’ for students to respond.

To learn more: 

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