A Key Point When Asking Questions
Choosing the right method to ask questions during a martial arts class can significantly affect student engagement and participation. Here’s a closer look at two common approaches:
Option One: Ask a Specific Student
- Directly asking a student, such as "Sally, what is the secret advantage bad guys always have on their victims?" focuses attention on one individual. While this method can check a specific student's understanding, it might let the rest of the class off the hook, as they might not think about the answer themselves.
Option Two: Ask the Entire Class
- Posing the question to the whole class, like "Who knows the secret advantage that bad guys always have on their victims?" encourages all students to think about the answer. This method can lead to more comprehensive engagement, but often the same few students may dominate the response time.
Enhancing Engagement with Effective Questioning Techniques To maximize class participation and ensure more balanced involvement:
- Introduce a brief pause after asking the question. This pause gives all students a moment to think about their answers before anyone responds.
- Rotate the students who are called upon to answer, ensuring that over time, everyone gets a chance to participate.
- Consider using mixed methods depending on the complexity of the question or the lesson's goals to keep all students actively involved and thinking.