Questioning Strategies: Open vs. closed questions

During a Network meeting today, we discussed how questioning strategies fit into inquiry-based learning.

Here are some thoughts from today's learning:

The Frayer Model

The Frayer Model is a really neat organizer that allows students to build on their understanding of a concept. Students individually, in groups, or as a class, could use this to capture the definition, elements, and examples of a concept they are learning about. They can also review, change, and expand their ideas of the concept as their understanding deepens over the course of a lesson, unit, etc.

Effective questions are important in inquiry-based learning because they enhance the thinking of the students in a classroom.

Definition Effective questions are open-ended questions that have a range of responses and inspire student engagement.	Essential Characteristics            Open-ended            Allow for a range of responses            Wait time for students            Foundation set up in the classroom to give students an opportunity to think and talk about the question (e.g., think/pair/share)            Engages students            Critical thinking
Yes Example How many ways can we make 10?	No Example What is 4 + 6?

 

Food for thought:

When learning through student inquiry, are the open-ended questions always asked by the teacher? Or is the goal to have students begin to develop, ask, and answer these questions independently?