Without a sequential questioning strategy, groups often flounder, go off track, or overlook essential information. Appropriate Strategies Educators have long recognized the value of asking important questions. However, they are increasingly aware of the importance of asking questions that go beyond recall and that stretch student thinking. But most questioning strategies have significant deficiencies. Most questioning strategies, although effective at stimulating thought about a given point, do little to help students integrate their thinking and produce a logical, well-considered conclusion or point of view that builds on previous questioning or thinking.
Questions appear to be almost random.
The questions still reside with the teacher. But to develop the thinking and questioning abilities of students, the questions must reside with the students. We need to help students develop the capability to ask tough and meaningful questions. Effective teacher-generated questioning strategies encourage students to think but not necessarily to become better questioners. Indeed, Carin and Sund demonstrated that students attain significantly higher levels of thinking when they are encouraged to develop skill in generating critical and creative questions and when they are provided opportunities for dialogue with classmates about the questions posed and conclusions derived from information they encounter.