“Does anyone have any questions?” Say this instead.
I recently shared a quick teaching tip on Threads:
Instead of asking students, "Does anyone have any questions?", try asking, "What questions do you have?" or "Ask me two questions."
It turns out, many teachers are grappling with the same challenge of encouraging students to ask relevant questions when prompted. Fellow educators replied with handy advice.
Turning Silence into Conversation
Carrie Nielsen offered a practical approach to breaking the ice. She suggests pairing students up when there's initial silence and having them generate questions together. This strategy not only encourages collaboration but also helps students feel less isolated when they have questions.
Shifting the Focus
Philip Jeffery provided a simple yet effective twist on the traditional question-and-answer format. By asking students to ask each other a question, we can foster peer-to-peer learning.
Visualizing Questions
Lauren Boucher brought a visual element to question generation. Her sticky note idea is a fantastic way to collect and categorize student inquiries. This approach can also help teachers identify common misconceptions or areas that need further clarification.
Building Confidence
John Scali's suggestion of asking students to predict what questions others might have is a brilliant way to reduce anxiety and encourage participation.
Addressing the Root of the Problem
Tim Corica offered valuable insights into the psychology behind student silence. He highlighted the importance of creating a safe space for questions by avoiding the dreaded "does anyone have any questions?" prompt.
Clarifying Expectations
Kris Hill emphasized the importance of being specific when asking for questions. By clearly defining the focus of the inquiry, teachers can avoid off-topic tangents and maximize learning time.
Don’t Forget Wait Time
W. Brian Lane replied on Bluesky. He reminds us that students need time to think. Be sure you’re waiting long enough for them to actually think and formulate questions.
Also wait 10 seconds (literally count in your head) for answers. If you need to force yourself to not move on, drink from your water bottle. You have a water bottle with you, right?
— W. Brian Lane (he/him) (@wbrianlane.bsky.social) Aug 13, 2024 at 6:58 AM
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What strategies do you use for eliciting questions? You’re invited to share your thoughts in the comments below. I’m certainly glad that Carrie, Phillip, Lauren, John, Tim, Kris, and Brian shared theirs!
Title image generated with Ideogram.ai. Text of this blog post was written with the assistance of AI. I have reviewed, revised, and edited the text to ensure accuracy and clarity.
