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)
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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.
Transcript (23 KB)
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.
Example Lesson Plan Year 7, School A (137 KB)
Example Lesson Plan Year 10, School A (48 KB)
Example Lesson Plan Year 10, School B (43 KB)
Using the Questioning observation sheet consider which of the effective questioning techniques you could use when working with individual or groups of pupils.
Questioning observation sheet (30 KB)
Peer observations
You may find it helpful to arrange peer observations with a colleague. You could observe each other leading a group or guided session and note the types of questioning used and evaluate the effectiveness of each on the observation sheet. You could then compare notes and plan sequences of questions together using the Literal and Higher Order Questioning sheet.
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.