“Learning is coupled with practice,” a proverb from our ancestors, remains true across all eras. In today’s education, active learning methods are increasingly emphasized because they encourage proactivity, creativity, and comprehensive development in students. But how can we effectively implement this method? The “secret” lies in how we ask questions! So, how to ask effective questions for active learning? Let’s explore with “HỌC LÀM”!
“Magical” Questions: The “Magic Wand” for Modern Teachers
You know, in the classroom, a good question is not just for checking knowledge, but also a “bridge” to bring students closer to the lesson. Just like how Harry Potter uses his magic wand, a question asked at the right time and place can “enchant” the whole class, making it more lively and excited.
Clear Distinction: Active Learning vs. Traditional Teaching
Many people still confuse active learning with traditional teaching. To better understand how to ask questions in active learning, we first need to clearly distinguish between these two methods.
Traditional Teaching:
- Teachers are the center, delivering knowledge one-way to students.
- Students passively absorb, with limited opportunities to express personal opinions.
- Questions often focus on checking taught knowledge.
Active Learning:
- Students are the center, actively exploring and acquiring knowledge.
- Teachers act as facilitators, creating a positive learning environment, encouraging student interaction and collaboration.
- Questions are used as a tool to stimulate thinking, prompting students to analyze, evaluate, and solve problems.
“Dissecting” the Characteristics of Active Learning Questions
To “transform” an abstract classroom, remember these “spells” when asking questions:
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Open-ended: Instead of “closed” questions with only one correct answer, prioritize “open-ended” questions that encourage students to freely express opinions, thoughts, and feelings.
- Example: Instead of asking “What is the poem about?”, ask “How do you feel about this poem?”.
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Challenging: Don’t hesitate to ask slightly “tricky” questions that challenge students to apply their learned knowledge and skills to find solutions.
- Example: Instead of asking “What caused World War II?”, ask “If you were a leader at that time, what would you do to prevent this war?”.
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Connecting: Integrate questions related to real-life situations, helping students see the usefulness and practicality of the lesson.
- Example: When teaching the Pythagorean theorem, ask students “Where can we apply this theorem in real life?”.
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Differentiated: Each student has different abilities and potentials. Prepare questions with varying levels of difficulty to suit each student.
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Feedback: After students answer, let them know if their answer is correct or not, and more importantly, explain why.
Besides mastering the above characteristics, seeking advice from education experts is also crucial. As Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, a teacher with many years of experience at Hanoi – Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, once shared: “To ask good active learning questions, teachers need to be truly dedicated to the profession, constantly learning, innovating, and understanding student psychology.”
“Troubleshooting” Common Issues in Application
Reality shows that applying active learning, especially in asking questions, still faces many difficulties. Here are some common issues and solutions:
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Teachers haven’t truly changed their perspective and teaching habits: Many teachers are still accustomed to traditional teaching, considering knowledge transfer as the primary task and not really focusing on developing students’ abilities and qualities.
- Solution: Changing perception is key. Teachers need to participate in training and development courses to raise awareness about active learning, thereby changing their teaching methods and organizational forms accordingly.
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Not enough time to prepare lessons in an active learning direction: To have a truly engaging and effective active learning lesson, teachers need to invest a lot of time and effort.
- Solution: There needs to be sharing and mutual support among teachers in subject groups and schools. In addition, the application of information technology in teaching also helps reduce preparation time and improve lesson effectiveness.
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Students haven’t adapted to the new learning method: Many students are accustomed to passive learning, waiting for teachers to “pour” knowledge in, so when participating in active learning classes, they are still shy and afraid to express themselves.
- Solution: Teachers need to be patient, persistent in guiding and encouraging students to participate in learning activities. In addition, it is necessary to create a friendly and open learning environment so that students are more confident in sharing and expressing their opinions.
Conclusion: “Sow Good Habits, Reap Good Results”
Asking questions in active learning is like “sowing seeds” of knowledge and skills for students. Whether the “seeds” sprout and grow depends greatly on the “gardeners” who are teachers.
Let’s join “HỌC LÀM” in building a modern education environment where every lesson is truly useful and enjoyable!
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For further advice on effective teaching skills, please contact hotline: 0372888889 or come directly to the address: 335 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi. “HỌC LÀM”‘s consulting team is always ready to support you 24/7.