Blog Post 4

What we as future educators need to know about asking questions in order to be better teachers is more simple than we may realize. In order to know what kinds of questions to ask and how to ask them , we have to take ourselves out of the equation and only focus on the children. We have to put ourselves in the minds of the children we are teaching and at any given age, process the information into the words in which a child would ask a simple question. We have to look at the subject each time as if it is the first time we have ever laid eyes on it. As future educators we must begin practicing this technique early on and never lose it. Even throughout the expansion of our career as educators we will learn and grow to find more effective ways to teach by asking questions. Continuously growing as teachers is just as important to our education program. We can grow as teachers a lot by just listening to the children we teach and feeding off of that to improve our own notes and skills. One of the most significant reasons for questioning students is for the process that takes place after the question is asked. If educators ask the right questions, then the answer itself is not the most important part but the process in which the answer is found. Whether it be through the students thinking process, use of technology, or interacting in groups and discovering information together, it takes a process of learning, growing, and becoming self-sufficient that makes questioning a great teaching skill. It is most important for a student to become an independent thinker and find their own process of discovering information. By asking questions it allows the students mind to wonder into depths that possibly go further than the question itself and explore multitudes of options. This allows for opportunities for the pupil to realize they have the availability to become an independent thinker and rely on their own thoughts and actions as a student. This is the seed that beings the plant of furthering their personal growth in education and knowledge.
According to Ben Johnson's "The Right Way to Ask Questions in The Classroom," there are many different scenarios to consider when examining a teachers intent behind their questioning technique. The intention could be to check for understanding or it could be with the hopes of something further taking place in the students mind. It could be to teach them something more, whether it be about the topic at hand or about themselves. He goes on to explain that classroom observations is a very important part of learning the question process as an educator. The approach is both simple and effective if done the correct way. In order to be an effective teacher we must put a lot of thought and effort into this process.
In an "Essortment" article I recently found called "Teaching with Questions:Socratic Method," it states that in order to be an effective teacher you are required to ask open ended question. It goes on to state that as an educator you should be using questions as a learning tool rather than just an opportunity to clarify understanding.