Questioning and Prompting Pupils
At the heart of effective whole-class discussion is the way in which the teacher questions and prompts pupils to extend their thinking and also identify pupils' learning and understanding.
The video clips provide useful examples of effective questioning.
Activity
View the video clips which illustrate effective questioning and prompting.
School B, Year 10 - Questioning and Prompting Pupils (00:24)
You can watch the video via 56k modem or slow (100kbps) / medium (256 kbps) / fast (400kbps) / very fast (800kbps) broadband connections. Alternative format Flash video. You do need to have the flash plugin.
School A, Year 7 - Questioning and Prompting Pupils (01:04)
You can watch the video via 56k modem or slow (100kbps) / medium (256 kbps) / fast (400kbps) / very fast (800kbps) broadband connections. Alternative format Flash video. You do need to have the flash plugin.
School A, Year 10 - Questioning and Prompting Pupils (01:46)
You can watch the video via 56k modem or slow (100kbps) / medium (256 kbps) / fast (400kbps) / very fast (800kbps) broadband connections. Alternative format Flash video. You do need to have the flash plugin.
Read the Questioning observation sheet and view the video examples again and use the sheet to identify elements of effective questioning noting down pupils' responses and your comments.
Invite a colleague to observe one of your lessons and using the Questioning observation sheet to provide feedback on the way in which you use questioning to develop learning.
Another way to review your use of questioning is to arrange for one of your lessons to be recorded and then to analyse it again using the Questioning observation sheet.
Questioning observation sheet (30 KB)
Further resources
Many teachers have found the materials available on questioning in Pedagogy and Practice: Teaching and Learning in the Secondary School, DfES 0430-2004, Unit 7 Questioning, valuable in helping them to focus on the way they use questions in the classroom. If developing more effective questioning is an area that you feel you would like to explore further then the activities in Unit 7 will prove particularly helpful.