how to tutor effectively - asking good questions
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How to Tutor Effectively - Asking Good QuestionsTRANSCRIPT
27/5/2014 How to Tutor Effectively - Asking Good Questions
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How to Tutor Effectively - Asking GoodQuestions
by MoonByTheSea
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Asking the right questions is key to
successful tutoring. As a tutor, how
often have you given a brilliantly
crafted explanation, only to be met with
a blank stare? By asking good
questions, you can make sure your
student is actively engaged in the
learning process, promoting deeper
understanding of the subject matter.
The questions you ask should help
your students reinforce basic ideas,
build connections among concepts,
and push them to apply their
knowledge to new situations.
In her book Tools for Teaching,
Barbara Davis briefly outlines ten types of questions that are useful for instructors
to ask. Here, I will expand upon these questions, provide examples, and relate
their importance to effective learning. Notice that these questions move from
simpler to more complex levels of thought.
Exploratory Questions
Ask students to recall basic information.
Examples: “What is kinetic energy?”, “What is a vector?”
Ask this type of question at the beginning of a tutoring session so you can
figure out what your student already knows and where there might be gaps in
information or understanding.
Challenge Questions
Ask students to question their
assumptions, conclusions, and
interpretations (or those of
others).
Examples: “If there is no gravity in
space, how does the Earth stay in
orbit around the sun?”, “Are there
any other explanations that could account for these findings?”
This is a good type of question to ask if your student has made an error in
thinking, and you’re trying to get the student to correct the error themselves.
In the above example about gravity, students often make the false assumption
that there is no gravity in space. Students are more likely to remember the
correct approach if they self-correct rather than having someone just tell them
the right answer.
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Relational Questions
Ask students to compare
similarities and differences among
concepts.
Examples: “What is the
relationship between the potential
and kinetic energy of the ball at
these two different points?”, “What
are some differences between mammals and reptiles?”
Deep learning requires students to develop a schema, a kind of mental
concept map of their learning. You can facilitate this process by asking your
students to articulate relationships among concepts. Understanding these
relationships helps students push their learning beyond mere memorization of
facts.
Diagnostic Questions
Ask students to describe
underlying concepts or processes.
Examples: “Why did you use
l’hopital’s rule in this problem?”,
“Why did you draw the force in
that direction?”
If students just memorize facts and equations without understanding the
underlying reasoning, they’ll get stuck later when they try to build on what they
know or are expected to apply their knowledge to new situations. Asking
diagnostic questions helps you make sure that your students comprehend
what they are studying and that they aren’t just repeating memorized facts.
Even if a student is on the right track, it’s good to ask them to explain their
reasoning.
Action Questions
Ask the student what they would
do, or what others should do.
Examples: “What is the first thing
you should do when setting up
this type of problem?”, “What
should the company in this
example do if it wants to maximize its profits?"
Once a student has a fair grasp of the concepts being studied, asking action
questions is a good way to gauge their ability to apply what they know to new
situations. In something like math or physics, try to use examples that are a bit
different from what the student may have just studied, instead of just using the
same problem with different numbers.
Cause-and-Effect Questions
Ask the student to identify the causal relationship between ideas or events.
Examples: “Why did the hydrogen atom lose its electron in this reaction?”,
“Why was heat released in this reaction?”
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Sometimes students just memorize
equations or steps, and cause-
and-effect questions can help you
check that your student
understands underlying causal
relationships.
Summary Questions
Ask the student to summarize or
synthesize what they’ve learned
so far.
Examples: "Let's review what
we've discussed--the next time
you see this type of problem, what
steps will you take to find the
solution?", “Can you repeat that
explanation back to me in your own words?”
Summary questions are useful near the end of a tutoring session to check the
student’s understanding. You can also sprinkle summary questions
throughout the tutoring session to make sure your student is on the right
track.
Priority Questions
Ask the student to identify the
most important cause or issue.
Examples: “What is the most
important factor in determining the
type of reaction?”, “Based on what
you’ve studied, what is the most significant factor in determining infant
mortality rates in developing countries?"
Since priority questions can often elicit short answers, you may want to follow
up with a “why” question asking the student to explain their reasoning. Using
priority questions is a good way to push a student’s thinking beyond surface
facts.
Hypothetical Questions
Change the facts or conditions of
a problem, and ask your student
to draw a new conclusion.
Examples: “How would your
solution change if the mass were
moved by a constant force instead
of being attached to a spring?”,
“What would happen if I add more
oxygen to this reaction?"
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Learn more about effectivetutoring
How to Tutor Effectively - Some
Research-Based Approaches
Many people offer tips for
effective tutoring, but what does
the research say about good
tutoring techniques? And how
can you put these principles into
practice?
How to Tutor Math Effectively -
Techniques for Using the
Textbook
Guiding your students in
techniques for effectively using
their textbooks will help them
build foundational skills for long-
term success in math.
Hypothetical questions are similar to cause-and-effect questions, but they
require students to apply concepts to a different situation rather than
explaining what is already given. These are good questions for reinforcing a
student’s understanding after they successfully finish a problem.
Try using some of these question
types during your next tutoring
session. Even if you choose just a few
to add to your tutoring routine, you
should see a difference in your
students’ learning. As you get more
practice, you’ll start to get a sense for
which questions work best for you.
Extension Questions
Ask the student to extend what
they’ve learned to a new situation
or context.
Examples: “How might momentum
and energy be important later in
our study of nuclear physics?”,
“How could you design an
experiment to test this idea?"
Since extension questions require
students to stretch their
understanding beyond what is
normally expected, only use these
questions once your student has
mastered the fundamental
concepts. Often textbooks will
include extension or “challenge”
questions at the end of a chapter,
so you can mine these for ideas.
Last updated on January 20, 2014