cut the questions
Comments(1) Questions are often overused in the academic environment. Teachers definitely want student to discuss things and asking questions appears to be a way to deepen thinking. However, certain factors inhibit this noble goal! First, the fact that the students are in their own peer group. Some students are intimidated by other students and will not answer questions truthfully. A student may not want to look too cooperative or willing or even too intelligent. Teachers need to be aware that they are working in a complex social environment. It may seem easy to ask a question to initiate thinking and discussion. However, without some understanding of the social group you are dealing with, it may be extremely difficult to get students to answer honestly and forthrightly.
Second, good questions simply can never substitute for relationship. Students need to know you care and that you are willing to share. Why would a student trust a teacher who doesn’t appear willing to work on the student-teacher relationship? Students need to know that they are being respected and are not just part of some kind of educational game. The teacher has to be able to convey that what is happening is meaningful.
I disagree, as I think questions in the classroom can be very useful. Not only do questions help teachers understand where the student is coming from, they also allow teachers to assess their students learning and their own teaching. I think questions are a good way to keep students engaged but I agree they should not be overused.
In the discipline of theatre I think asking questions is very important. These questions can spark inquiry as well as a whole new way of thinking about scene or a script. Lastly I think questions are a great tool to use from student to student. I do not believe that the teacher always has to be the one posing the questions. When students have time to ask each other why they did things a certain way or what their characters motivation was, the responses are generally more to the point. And students do not get caught up on what they should say or what the right answer is, they just explain their own thinking in their own words!