Handout Developing Engaging Questions For Online Discussions

Bloom's Taxonomy: Resources and Questions
First three levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy are considered lower order thinking skills
(LOCS)—or foundational thinking skills: Knowledge/Remember,
Comprehension/Understand, and Application/Apply. The higher order thinking skills
(HOCS) are: Analysis/Analyze, Synthesis/Create, and Evaluation/Evaluate. The new,
revised Taxonomy level categories have been changed to active verbs and also flipped
the top two levels, because most experts agree that synthesis/create is more challenging
than evaluation/evaluate.
Knowledge/Remember1
• Definition
Rote factual knowledge of specific terminology, ways and means (i.e., conventions,
trends, classifications and categories, criteria, methodology), universal axioms and/or
abstractions accepted by the field or discipline (principles and generalizations, theories
and structures).
• Behavioral Learning Outcome
Ability to recall appropriate, learned information on command.
• Cognitive Learning Outcome
Lowest level of learning outcomes.
• Key Phrases for Assessment
arrange, define, duplicate, label, list, memorize, name, order, recognize, relate, recall,
repeat, reproduce, state, describes, enumerates, identifies, matches, reads, records,
selects, views, writes
• Teaching/Learning Methods:
Lecture
Memorization
Readings
Podcast
Video
Web information
• Formative Assessments
Q & A (Face-to-face2: oral, clickers, minute papers via 3x5” cards; Synchronous: oral,
1 The first level category title is Bloom’s original, while the second term is the new, revised
Bloom’s Taxonomy category level title.
2 The tools for online synchronous courses will also work for F2F; however, the tools for F2F
don’t always work for online synchronous courses.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Resources & Questions Compiled–- September 23, 2016 1

Developing Engaging Questions for Online Discussions 1
PollEverywhere3, Socrative4, Kahoot5; Asychronous: oral with VoiceThread6, Canvas
Polls7; Canvas Surveys8; minute papers via discussion board or Canvas Survey)
Questions are convergent, limited answers
Student recitations
Jeopardy-like games
• Summative Assessments
Exam items of the form: define, label, list, reproduce.
Items are convergent, limited answers.
• Example Assessment
Label the parts of the human eye.
• Knowledge/Remember Questions:
o What is…? o How is…?
o Can you select? o How would you show…?
o Where is…? o What does it mean?
o When did ____ happen? o What happens after?
o Who were the main…? o What is the best one?
o Which one…? o Can you name all the …?
o Why did…? o Who spoke to …?
o How would you describe…? o Which is true or false?
o When did…? o Identify
o Can you recall…? o Recall
o Who was…? o List, Recognize, or Label
o How would you explain…?
o How did ___happen…?
o Can you list the three..?
3 PollEverywhere - https://www.polleverywhere.com/classroom-response-system
4 Socrative - http://www.socrative.com/index.php
5 Kahoot - https://getkahoot.com/
6 Voicethread - https://voicethread.com/
7 Canvas Polls – https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-4046
8 Canvas Surveys – How to make: https://guides.instructure.com/m/4152/l/68346-how-do-i-
create-a-survey-in-my-course; How to submit: https://guides.instructure.com/m/4212/l/68347-

how-do-i-submit-a-survey

Comprehension/Understand
• Definition
Understanding the meaning of information and materials.
Being able to translate materials from one form or format to another by explaining or
summarizing and predicting consequences or effects.
Represents the lowest level of understanding and interpretation of rote factual
information.
classifies; cites; converts; describes; discusses; estimates; explains; generalizes; gives
examples; makes sense out of; paraphrases; restates (in own words); summarizes; traces;
understands. express identify indicate locate recognize report review select translate
illustrates
Readings
Graphic Organizers
Demonstration
Discussion
Q & A (Face-to-face: oral, clickers, minute papers via 3x5” cards; Synchronous: oral,
PollEverywhere, Socrative, Kahoot; Asychronous: oral with VoiceThread, Canvas Polls;
Canvas Surveys; minute papers via discussion board or Canvas Surveys)
Questions are convergent, limited answers.
Student presentations or demonstrations within small groups, peer reviews; face to face,
podcasts, videos, role play
Think-Pair-Share
Exam items of the form: describe, explain, summarize, identify or select
Items are convergent, limited answers.
Student Presentations for instructor or evaluator (face to face, podcasts, videos, role
play)
Trace the path the stimulus takes from the time light enters the eye to processing in the
visual cortex.

• Comprehension/Understand Questions
o How would you classify the type of…?
o How would you compare…? contrast…?
o Will you state or interpret in your own words…?
o How would you rephrase the meaning?
o What facts or ideas show…?
o What is the main idea of ……?
o Which statements support…?
o Which is the best answer…?
o What can you say about …?
o How would you summarize… ?
o Can you explain what is happening…?
o What is meant by…?
o Which are the facts?
o State in your own words.
o Is this the same as …?
o Give an example.
o Select the best definition.
o Condense this paragraph.
o What would happen if …?
o Explain why . . . .
o What expectations are there?
o Read the graph (table).
o What are they saying?
o This represents . . .
o What seems to be …?
o Is it valid that …?
o What seems likely?
o Show in a graph, table.
o Which statements support …?
o What restrictions would you add?
o Outline . . .
o What could have happened next?
o Can you clarify. . .?
o Can you illustrate . . . ?
o Does everyone think in the way that … does? Why or why not? What is the
evidence?
o Describe or explain in your own words, re-tell, or summarize
o Describe ______ to a lay person
o Provide an example of ….

Application/Apply
• Definition
Using information and materials to solve new problems or respond to concrete
situations that have a single or best answer.
Applying learned material such as rules, methods, concepts, principles, laws, and
theories.
Learning outcomes demonstrate a higher level of understanding of the mechanics of
employing information to a purpose than comprehension.
apply, choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, practice,
schedule, sketch, solve, use, write, acts, administers, articulates, assesses, charts, collects,
computes, constructs, contributes, controls, determines, develops, discovers, establishes,
extends, implements, includes, informs, instructs, operationalizes, participates, predicts,
prepares, preserves, produces, projects, provides, relates, reports, shows, teaches,
transfers, uses, utilizes
Demonstrate problem-solving (Case Studies, text problems, scenarios)
Demonstrate application of rules, laws, or theories (Case Studies, text problems,
scenarios)
Demonstrate methods or procedures
Practice in multiple contexts
Student demonstrations within small groups (peer reviews)
Questions may be convergent or divergent.
Video student demonstrations and follow with self-evaluation
Student presentation for instructor or evaluator. (Live, video, podcast)
Exam items of the form: apply, use, solve, demonstrate, employ
Problem set
Apply the Opponent Processes color theory to predict how the world appears to the
major varieties of color blindness and color vision anomaly.

• Application/Apply Questions
o How would you use…?
o How would you solve ___ using what you’ve learned…?
o What examples can you find to…?
o How would you show your understanding of…?
o How would you organize _______ to show…?
o How would you apply what you learned to develop…?
o What approach would you use to…?
o What other way would you plan to…?
o What would result if…?
o Can you make use of the facts to…?
o What elements would you use to change…?
o What facts would you select to show…?
o What questions would you ask during an interview?
o Predict what would happen if ...
o Choose the best statements that apply.
o Judge the effects of …
o What would result …?
o Tell what would happen if …
o Tell how, when, where, why.
o Tell how much change there would be if …
o Identify the results of …
o Write in your own words …
o How would you explain …?
o Write a brief outline …
o What do you think could have happened next?
o Who do you think…?
o What was the main idea …?
o Clarify why …
o Illustrate the …
o Does everyone act in the way that … does?
o Draw a story map.
o Explain why a character acted in the way that he did.
o Do you know of another instance where …?
o Can you group by characteristics such as …?
o Which factors would you change if …?
o What questions would you ask of …?
o From the information given, can you develop a set of instructions about …?
o Predict an outcome using several pieces of information or concepts; use
information in a new context
o Predict what happens to X if Y increases

Analysis/Analyze
• Definition
Decomposing— to separate or resolve into constituent parts or elements9—materials into
their component parts so they can be examined and understood.
The student is able to develop multiple conclusions concerning the motives, causes,
inferences and generalizations that can be derived from the material's component parts
and organization.
Learning outcomes involve a comprehension and understanding of the content and
structure of the material.
analyze, appraise, calculate, categorize, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate,
discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test, breaks down, categorizes,
correlates, diagrams, focuses, illustrates, infers, limits, outlines, points out, prioritizes,
recognizes, separates, subdivides
• Teaching/Learning Methods
Case Studies
Simulations (Computer-based, mannequins, part task trainers, role plays)
Discussion
Labs
Graphic Organizers
Student presentation within small group (peer review)
Questions may be convergent or divergent
Graphic Organizers
Exam items of the form: analyze, compare, distinguish, examine, test (Take home,
online, or face to face)
Portfolio entries focused on analyzing case studies or clinical experiences.
Essays
Student presentations
Compare and contrast Helmholtz's (1865) "Place Theory" to Rutherford's (1886)
"Frequency Theory".
9 http://www.dictionary.com/browse/decompose?s=t

• Analysis/Analyze Questions
o What are the parts or features o The least essential statements
of . . . ? are …
o How is _______ related to . . . ? o What’s the main idea? Theme?
o Why do you think . . . ? o What literary form is used?
o What is the theme . . . ? o What persuasive technique is
o What motive is there . . . ? used?
o Can you list the parts . . . ? o Determine the point of view,
o What inference can you make . bias, values, or intent
..? underlying presented
o What conclusions can you material.
draw . . . ? o Which events could not have
o How would you classify . . . ? happened?
o How would you categorize . . . o If … happened, what might
? the ending have been?
o Can you identify the different o How is … similar to …?
parts . . . ? o What do you see as other
o What evidence can you find . . possible outcomes?
.? o Why did … changes occur?
o What is the relationship o Can you explain what must
between . . . ? have happened when …?
o Can you make a distinction o What were some of the
between . . . ? motives behind …?
o What is the function of . . . ? o What was the turning point?
o What ideas justify . . . ? o What are some of the
o What is the function of …? problems of …?
o What’s fact? Opinion? o Can you distinguish between
o What assumptions …? …?
o What statement is relevant? o Infer
o What motive is there? o Understand how components
o What conclusions? relate to each other and to the
o What does the author believe? process as a whole
o What does the author assume? o Interpret data, graphs, or
o State the point of view of … figures
o What ideas apply? o Make a diagnosis or analyze a
o What ideas justify the case study
conclusion? o Compare/contrast information
o What’s the relationship
between?

Evaluation/Evaluate
• Definition
Judging value of materials based on personal values/opinions or definite criteria.
Concerned with evaluating material to determine if it fulfills given purpose. Criteria
may be internal (organization; defined by student) or external (relevant to the purpose;
provided to student).
Student is able to produce an end product that fulfills a given purpose rather than being
right/wrong.
Learning outcomes highest because it contains all other categories and includes value
judgments based on clearly defined criteria.
appraise, argue, assess, attach, choose, compare, defend, estimate, judge, predict, rate,
core, select, support, value, evaluate, contrasts, concludes, criticizes, critiques, decides,
interprets, justifies, reframes
Demonstrate process for evaluating research reports based on criteria
Case Studies - Small group discussions of appropriateness of procedures, results
Debates
Small group discussions
Debates
Exam items of the form: evaluate, argue, assess, defend, judge, predict, rate, support
Evaluate the ADA guidelines in light of what you have learned about blindness and
critique its strengths and weaknesses. Do you believe the guidelines are effective? Why
or why not?

• Evaluation/Evaluate Questions
o Do you agree with the o Which is more important,
actions/outcome…? moral, better, logical, valid,
o What is your opinion of…? appropriate?
o How would you o Find the errors.
prove/disprove…? o Is there a better solution to …?
o Can you assess the value or o Judge the value of … .
importance of…? o What do you think about …?
o Would it be better if…? o Defend your position about …
o Why did they (the character) .
choose…? o Do you think … is a good or
o What would you bad thing?
recommend…? o How would you have handled
o How would you rate the…? …?
o How would you evaluate…? o What changes to … would you
o How would you compare the recommend?
ideas…? the people…? o Do you believe …?
o How could you determine…? o How would you feel if …?
o What choice would you have o How effective are …?
made…? o What are the consequences of
o What would you select…? …?
o How would you prioritize…? o What influence will … have on
o How would you justify…? …?
o What judgment would you o What are the pros and cons of
make about…? …?
o Why was it better that…? o Why is … of value?
o How would you prioritize the o What are the alternatives?
facts…? o Who will gain and who will
o What would you cite to lose?
defend the actions…? o Determine/critique the relative
o What data was used to make value of … .
the conclusion…? o Determine the merit of … .
o What information would you o Critique an experimental
use to support the view…? design or research proposals
o Based on what you know, how o Appraise data support of a
would you explain…? hypothesis
o What fallacies, consistencies,
inconsistencies appear?

Synthesis/Create
• Definition
Using new and creative applications of prior knowledge and skills.
The student’s ability to produce a new or original end product. Examples include a
unique communication, plan of operations (research proposal), or abstract relations
(information classification scheme).
Learning outcomes emphasize creativity and the creation of unique patterns or
structures.
arrange, assemble, collect, compose, construct, create, design, develop, formulate,
manage, organize, plan, prepare, propose, set up, write, adapts, anticipates, collaborates,
combines, communicates, compiles, devises, expresses, facilitates, generates,
hypothesizes, incorporates, individualizes, initiates, integrates, intervenes, invents,
models, modifies, negotiates, progresses, rearranges, reconstructs, reinforces,
reorganizes, revises, structures, substitutes, validates
Research/Labs
Plan development
Multiple Case Studies – Class or small group discussions assembling relevant
information to produce a hypothesis, plan to address recurring problems
Interviews with experts
Small group discussions
Student presentations in small groups
Q & A (Synchronous: oral, clickers, PollEverywhere, Socrative, Kahoot; Asychronous:
Canvas Polls, minute papers via 3x5” cards; Canvas Surveys, minute papers via
discussion board or Canvas Survey)
Exam items of the form: develop, plan, prepare, propose, construct, design, formulate,
create, assemble
Portfolio
Design and build a model
Create a work of art
Develop a unique plan to serve some purpose
Choose a perceptual disorder and create a device that would mitigate its effects.

• Synthesis/Create Questions
o What changes would you o What inference can you
make to solve…? make…? …?
o How would you improve…? o What ideas justify…?
o What would happen if…? o What conclusions can you
o Can you elaborate on the draw…?
reason…? o How would you classify…?
o Can you propose an o How would you categorize…?
alternative…? o Can you identify the different
o Can you invent…? parts…?
o How would you adapt o What evidence can you
____________ to create a find…?
different…? o What is the relationship
o How could you change between…?
(modify) the plot (plan)…? o Can you make the distinction
o What facts can you compile…? between…?
o What way would you o What is the function of…?
design…? o Can you design a … to …?
o What could be combined to o Can you see a possible
improve (change)…? solution to …?
o Suppose you could _____what o If you had access to all
would you do…? resources, how would you
o How would you test…? deal with …?
o Can you formulate a theory o Why don’t you devise your
for…? own way to …?
o Can you predict the outcome o What would happen if?
if…? o How many ways can you …?
o How would you estimate the o Can you create new and
results for…? unusual uses for …?
o What could be done to o Can you develop a proposal
minimize (maximize)…? which would …?
o Can you construct a model o How would you test …?
that would change…? o Propose an alternative.
o How is _____ related to…? o How else would you …?
o Can you think for an original o State a rule based on ….
way for the…? o Create something new
o What are the parts or features using/combining disparate
of…? sources of information
o Why do you think…? o Develop a hypothesis
o What is the theme…? o Design an experiment
o What motive is there…? o Create a model
o Can you list the parts…?

Types of Exam Questions10: Bloom’s Taxonomy
Question Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation
Type
Labeling X X X
Fill-in- X X X X
the-blank
True- X X X X
False
Multiple- X X X X X
choice
Short X X X X X X
answer
Essay X X X X X X
Characteristics of multiple-choice questions
Question Question Question Question N/A: If Question
only requires requires requires provided requires
requires understanding prediction interpretation with assessment
information of concept or of the most of data and choices, of
recall. terms. Possible likely selection of students information
Possible answers include outcome best only relative to
answers do significant given a new conclusion. differentiate its support
not include distractors. situation or between of an
significant perturbation possible argument.
distractors. to the answers
11 system. rather than
synthesize a
novel
response.
10 “Blooming Biology Tool” in Crowe, A., Dirks, C., and Wenderoth, M.P. (2008). “Biology in
Bloom: Implementing Bloom's Taxonomy to Enhance Student Learning in Biology.” CBE Life
Sci Educ. 2008 Winter; 7(4): 368–381. Retrieved September 25, 2016
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2592046/).
11 Significant distractors are those answers that represent common student misconceptions on
that topic.

Tools to Enhance Discussion and Reflection
PollEverywhere - https://www.polleverywhere.com/classroom-response-system
Socrative - http://www.socrative.com/index.php
Kahoot - https://getkahoot.com/
Voicethread - https://voicethread.com/
Canvas Tools:
• Canvas Polls – https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-4046
• Canvas Surveys – How to make: https://guides.instructure.com/m/4152/l/68346-how-do-
i-create-a-survey-in-my-course; How to submit:
https://guides.instructure.com/m/4212/l/68347-how-do-i-submit-a-survey
References
Armstrong, P. (2016). “Bloom’s Taxonomy.” Vanderbilt University, Center for Teaching.

Retrieved September 27, 2016 (https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-
taxonomy).
BloomsTaxonomy.org. “Bloom’s Taxonomy.” Retrieved September 23, 2016

(http://www.bloomstaxonomy.org/Blooms%20Taxonomy%20questions.pdf)
Central Florida University, Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. “Bloom’s Taxonomy.”
Retrieved September 23, 2016
(http://www.fctl.ucf.edu/teachingandlearningresources/coursedesign/bloomstaxonomy)
Crowe, A., Dirks, C., and Wenderoth, M.P. (2008). “Biology in Bloom: Implementing Bloom's
Taxonomy to Enhance Student Learning in Biology.” CBE Life Sci Educ. 2008 Winter; 7(4):
368–381. Retrieved September 25, 2016
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2592046/).
Northern Illinois University, Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center. “Teaching
with the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy.” Retrieved September 25, 2016
(http://www.niu.edu/facdev/programs/handouts/blooms.shtml).
Sample Question Stems Based on Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy. Retrieved September 23, 2016
(http://www.trenton.k12.nj.us/Downloads/05-2Bloom-16-17StemsforInstruction1.pdf).

How to Keep Online Discussions Going: Questions to Ask
Faculty Roles during Discussions

Active Socratic Questioner
• With Socratic questioning, an instructor is in the foreground asking questions but
not proposing or suggesting the answers.
• “What do you think is the main issue here?”
• “How does this relate to other core concepts?”
Summarizer
• Read discussion threads, summarize, clarify back to the class.
Encourager
• Encourage learners to participate, etc.
Short Questions to Keep the Discussion Going and On Track

Underdeveloped Post
• “Tell us more about why you believe…, and what from your reading this week
might support this view?”
• Have Students Do the Heavy Lifting
• “Imagine you are (a position opposite of their own), what would be your two or
three arguments against your current position?”
• Student Is Missing an Important Integrative Element
• “How would one’s view of _________ (the topic you think they need to consider)
affect the thoughts expressed in your post?”
One-sentence replies that lead students to higher-order thinking.

1. “How would you define _______________?” Here you are pulling a significant
word from your student’s post, one that may be loaded with assumptions that
you want them to question. This also demonstrates that you’re paying attention
to what they are writing.
2. “What reasons do you have for saying ‘________________’?”
3. “What do you think might be the implications of your statement, ‘________’?”
4. “What arguments would you expect others to bring against your viewpoint?”
5. “Tell us more about _________________?”
6. “How have your views on this changed over the last 5 years? Why did they
change or not change?”
7. “Share something from your course reading that supports your viewpoint in this
post. Explain the connections.”
Questions to Keep the Discussion Going 9/26/16 1

Summary Posts
• Posts that the instructor writes after the discussion is over.
• Professor sums up the discussion and makes some final comments.
• Send it out as an email to ensure that students will see it.
• Variation: Have students create their own summary posts.
To Encourage Disciplined Online Discussions

• “How does your observation relate to the topic of discussion?”
• “What is the connection between your comment and what was just said?”
• “Can you explain how your idea is helping us make sense of this subject
matter?”
• “We seem to have wandered away from the main topic. What do we need to do
to get back on track?”
• “Who has a comment or question that can help us regain our focus?”
Synthesis Questions
• “How has this discussion changed the way you are thinking about this topic?”
• “What is the most memorable thing you have learned in this discussion?”
• “What question or questions does this discussion prompt you to ask?”
• “What is something that you learned or relearned in this discussion?”
• “What do you know now that you did not know before this dialogue began?”
• “What assumptions you had about this topic have been confirmed or questioned
for you by this discussion?”
Questions to Keep the Discussion Going

• “What additional evidence is there to support your thinking about X?”
• “What assumptions are we making about X? How would our interpretation be
different with an alternate set of assumptions?”
• “What don’t we know about X, and how might that help us consider this issue
another way?”
• “Can you articulate your point another way or provide an example to clarify it?”
• “How else might you interpret X?”
Questions that Ask for More Evidence

• “How do you know that?”
• “What data is that claim based on? What does the author say that supports your
argument?”
• “Where did you find that view expressed in the text?”
• “What evidence would you give to someone who doubted your interpretation?”

Questions that Ask for Clarification
• “Can you put that another way?”
• “What’s a good example of what you are talking about?”
• “What do you mean by that?”
• “Can you explain the term you just used?”
• “Could you give a different illustration of your point?”
Linking or Extension Questions

• “Is there any connection between what you’ve just said and what Rajiv said?”
• “How does your comment fit in with Neng’s earlier comment?”
• “How does your observation relate to what the group decided last week?”
• “Does your idea challenge or support what we seem to be saying?”
• “How does that contribution add to what has already been said?”
Open Questions
• “Sauvage says that when facing moral crises, people who agonize don’t act, and
people who act don’t agonize. What does he mean by this?” Follow-up question:
“Can you think of an example that is consistent with Sauvage’s maxim and
another that conflicts with it?”
• “Racism pervaded American society throughout the twentieth century. What
are some signs that things are as bad as ever? What are other signs that racism
has abated significantly?”
• “Why do you think many people devote their lives to education despite the
often low pay and poor working conditions?”
Summary and Synthesis Questions

• “What are the one or two most important ideas that emerged from this
discussion?”
• “What remains unresolved or contentious about this topic?”
• “What do you understand better as a result of this week’s discussion?”
• “Based on our discussion today, what do we need to talk about next time if
we’re to understand this issue better?”
• “What key word or concept best captures our discussion today?”

References
Boettcher, J. V., and Conrad, R. M. (2010). The Online Teaching Survival Guide: Simple and
Practical Pedagogical Tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Brookfield, S. D., and Preskill, S. (2005). Discussion as a Way of Teaching: Tools and
Techniques for Democratic Classrooms, 2nd ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, pp. 85-89.
Johnson, A. (2013). Excellent! Online Teaching: Effective Strategies for a Successful Semester
Online.
Palloff, R. M., and Pratt, K. (1999). Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective
Strategies for the Online Classroom. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass, Inc., p. 119.

ASKING MORE EFFECIVE QUESTIONS
William F. McComas and Linda Abraham

Rossier School of Education
Introduction
From the development of the Socratic method, to the 1860 edition of Barnard’s American
Journal of Instruction that states, “to question well is to teach well,” educators have long known
that questioning is a useful way to aid in the transfer of knowledge from instructor to pupil
(Ross, 1860). Over the past 100 years, multiple U.S.-based studies have focused on the use of
questioning as a successful and universal pedagogical approach. Yet despite these studies and
their findings, not much has changed in terms of the manner in which teachers ask questions.
Leven and Long found that teachers in 1912 spent approximately eighty percent of the school
day asking questions – a statistic that was replicated by their study of classroom teachers and
their use of questioning in the 1980s (Leven and Long, 1981). And Wilen’s work shows that the
vast majority of questions asked by teachers are low-level cognitive questions that require
students to focus on the memorization and recall of factual information rather than questions
which foster deeper student understanding (1991).
Questioning plays a critical role in the way instructors structure the class environment, organize
the content of the course and has deep implications in the way that students assimilate the
information that is presented and discussed in class. Given that questioning can be a
tremendously effective way to teach, and recognizing that teachers are willing to engage in the
process of asking questions while instructing (Leven and Long’s research shows that the typical
teacher asks between 300-400 questions per day), the purpose of this paper is to articulate a
taxonomy of questions that will help instructors to recognize how to more effectively use
questioning as a pedagogical strategy (1981).
A Taxonomy of Question Types
Multiple approaches to classifying questions exist in the education literature. In fact, according
to William Wilen, one study which reviewed classification systems for classroom questions
found over 21 systems in place in 1974, with many more appearing since then (1991). The
taxonomy presented below is based on the research of William W. Wilen, and informed by the
work of Angelo V. Ciardiello, both of whom have published extensively on best practices in
questioning skills. Wilen’s simplified classification system is based on the taxonomy presented
by Gallagher and Aschner’s research from 1963 and takes into account the Bloom’s categories of
learning (1956) (See Appendix A).
The taxonomy presented separates questions into four quadrants with paired criteria: Questions
can be either high or low order, and can be either convergent or divergent in their design. A low
order question is one that requires the student to simply recall a single fact, while a high order
question asks the students to recall facts but to show that they comprehend the topic, situation or
solution to a stated problem. A high order question will require that a student understand the
relationship between a fact or piece of knowledge within the greater context of the situation.

2
Comparing Low and High Order questions:
Low order: What color is the lion in that diorama?

This question checks a student’s ability to recognize color and identify the color. There is a very
narrow range of possible answers (tan, light yellow, fawn)
High order question: Why do you suppose the lion is that color?
This question allows the student to recognize and identify color, but then asks the student to
consider the relationship of the lion’s color to other things (its environment, other lions, other
species of animal, its place on the foodchain)
The descriptor convergent refers to the limits placed on the response to a given question. A
convergent question by its nature has a more narrowly defined correct answer – the answer is
generally short, requires little reflection and requires that the responded recall from memory a bit
of factual information. Convergent questions may also be referred to as “closed-ended”
questions, meaning that the instructor is looking for an anticipated response that requires little
original thought on the student’s part. Convergent questions will not require students to put
original thought to the development of an answer. In other words, the answer will have been
provided within the context of the lecture or readings assigned by the instructor. A divergent
question on the other hand, is open-ended by nature. To respond to a divergent question, a
student must be able to recall some information from memory, but must apply that knowledge
and other knowledge to explain, extrapolate or further analyze a topic, situation or problem.
Divergent questions are broader in nature, can have multiple answers, and require then a higher
level of thinking on behalf of the student.
Comparing Convergent and Divergent questions:
Convergent: What other animals can you think of that use color as camouflage?
This question checks a student’s ability to identify what role camouflage and animal coloration
play in nature and suggest other examples. (The responses are fairly easily anticipated and
require that students recall other examples of animals they have seen or studied).
Divergent: Suppose the lion had been born with a much darker colored coat, what do you predict
would happen to that lion in the wild?
This question allows the student to consider a scenario, use knowledge regarding camouflage,
coat coloration and the environment the animal lives in to create an original answer that is logical
and correct.

3
Lower Level Convergent
Emphasis Memorization, recall, rote drilling

What is required of Recall or recognize information (identify or name, quote or
the student? define).
What Cognitive Call for the transfer of information in predictable ways.
Operations are Questions at this level will determine if students can organize
involved? and select facts as well as state the main ideas.
What typifies these Answers are easily anticipated by the teacher and are often
questions? closed – requiring a “yes” or “no” answer. Questions found at
the back of the textbook chapter are typically low-level
convergent questions.
Signal Phrases Who, what, where, when
Example “According to our study of plant physiology, what conditions
are required for photosynthesis to occur?”
Aligned to Bloom’s
taxonomy of learning Knowledge level
Pros Easy to develop questions and to anticipate student responses,
so directing class discussion becomes routine. Helps identify
students with large deficits in general knowledge.
Cons Least effective method for enhancing knowledge transfer.
Students who respond correctly may have memorized material
but without understanding it.
Higher Level Convergent
Emphasis Reasoning and critical thinking which usually requires some

direction from the instructor
What is required of Demonstration of understanding and ability to apply the
the student? information (students describe, compare, contrast, rephrase,
summarize, explain, translate, interpret or provide an example).
What Cognitive Explaining, stating relationships, comparing and contrasting
Operations are
involved?
What typifies these Students will look for evidence to support their response, and
questions? may break ideas, situations or events down into their component
parts
Signal Phrases Why, how and in what ways
Example “In what way do plant cells differ from animal cells?”
taxonomy of learning Comprehension and application levels
Pros Helps students to make connections between facts and begin to
understand relationships. Fosters critical thinking and skills
such as comparing and contrasting.
Cons Can lead to digressions in lesson plan, answers are longer and
more elaborate and may not be easily anticipated by teacher.

4
Lower Level Divergent
Emphasis Synthesis of information and analysis of information to develop

response.
What is required of Think critically about information, ideas, opinions. Students
the student? discover motives, reasons or causes, draw conclusions,
inferences or generalizations.
What Cognitive Hypothesizing, reconstructing
Operations are
involved?
What typifies these Questions that ask students to think of alternative ways of doing
questions? something, or require them to synthesize a number of elements
to create an original idea.
Signal Phrases How could…, What are some possible consequences…,
Imagine…
Example “How might life be different if peace was declared in the middle
east?”
taxonomy of learning Analysis level
Pros Focuses on critical thinking skills and allows for in-depth
student discussions. May lead to more student-generated
questions and conversations thus engaging the learner at a
deeper level.
Cons More difficult for teachers to determine in what direction the
lesson might be drawn. Requires more pre-planning, energy
and effort on behalf of the instructor.
Higher Level Divergent
Emphasis Motivate students to higher levels of thinking and encourage

creative thinking
What is required of Students produce original communications, make predictions,
the student? propose solutions, create, solve lifelike problems, speculate,
construct, devise, synthesize, develop/judge ideas, problems
solutions, express opinions, and make choices and decisions.
What Cognitive Predicting, inferring, performs original, creative and evaluative
Operations are thinking
involved?
What typifies these Teachers are required to think of the content they are presenting
questions? I different ways by creating different contexts for learning the
material.
Signal Phrases Defend, Judge, Predict, If… then, Can you create, What is your
opinion…
Example “Suppose you are the President of USC. How would you devise
a plan to increase the retention rate of minority first-year
students?”

5
Aligned to Bloom’s Synthesis & Evaluation Levels

taxonomy of learning
Pros Stimulate knowledge-seeking and hypothesis generation.
Cons Difficult and more energy intensive. Teacher must challenge his
or her own way of thinking and encourage the learner to as well.
More difficult to assign grades as the responses to these
questions may be highly original or personal.
Another way to classify or evaluate the level of questioning in a classroom can be illustrated by
Christenbury and Kelly’s model of the Questioning Circle. The three intersecting circles
represent domains of cognition, and rather than presenting a hierarchical approach to classifying
questions, they present an overlapping model with a high degree of flexibility. To Christenbury
and Kelly, the three circles each represent a different aspect of reality: (1) the Matter – the
subject of discussion (issue, problem, topic), (2) the Personal Reality – the student’s relationship
with the subject, and (3) the External Reality – the broader perspective of the subject. According
to the Christenbury-Kelly model, the most significant questions are higher-order and are
developed from areas where the circles overlap (Wilen 1991, Christenbury and Kelly, 1983).
Bringing the student’s personal perspective into the questioning schema begins to introduce a
constructivist view towards question generation.
The Matter The Personal Reality
The External Reality
“Following are sample questions representing the circles and their interactions from one incident
in Huckleberry Finn:
1. The Matter – What does Huck say when he decides not to turn Jim in to the authorities?
2. Personal Reality – When would you support a friend when everyone else thought he or
she was wrong?
3. External Reality – What was the responsibility of persons finding runaway slaves?
4. The Matter/Personal Reality – In what situations might someone be less than willing to
take the consequences of his or her actions?
5. Personal Reality/External Reality – Given the social and political circumstances, to what
extent would you have done as Huck did?
6. The Matter/External Reality – What were the issues during the time which caused both
Huck’s and Jim’s actions to be viewed as wrong?
7. The Matter/Personal Reality/External Reality – When is it right to go against social
and/or political structures of the time as Huck did when he refused to turn Jim into the
authorities?”
(Christenbury and Kelly, 1983)

6
Research shows that only 5% of teacher directed questions are higher-order divergent (Wilen,
1987). While the taxonomy above articulates a wide breadth of question types and while teachers
know that asking multiple types of questions is good pedagogy, the research indicates that
teachers consistently revert to asking lower level convergent questions far more often that any
other type of question. The following table illustrates a number of studies that sought to
determine the number of higher-order or divergent questions teachers asked compared to lower-
order convergent questions. The studies are summarized in “Questioning Skills, for Teachers”
by W. Wilen (1991). The results of each study illustrate the magnitude of the problem we face in
using questions well.
Study % higher order % lower order % operational

Haynes (1935) 17 77
Floyd (1960) 6 42
Davis & Hunkins (1966) 90
Trachtenberg (1974) 95
Gall (1987) 20 60 20
Wilen (1991) 5
Study after study reveals that although educators know that the higher-order divergent questions
hold significantly more power to engage the learner and ensure transfer of knowledge, we
consistently retreat to using lower-order, convergent style questions when teaching and testing
students.
Techniques for Asking More Effective Questions
The first step in asking better questions is to identify the types of questions we are currently
asking, why we are asking them, and finally, what techniques can we utilize to improve the
questioning that occurs in our classrooms. Questions help teachers fulfill multiple agendas in the
classroom. Questions are used to help teachers ascertain the level at which their students
understand (or misunderstand) concepts presented during lecture, they are used to engage or
encourage students’ active participation in a lesson, they are used to allow students to express
their thoughts and hear explanations offered by their peers, and they are used to keep students
alert or on task during class time (Brualdi, 1998). Focusing on why questions are asked leads us
to ask the deeper question of how questions are being asked. When we look within the broader
context of classroom interaction, how questions are asked has a tremendous impact on learner-
outcomes. These outcomes are shaped not just by how the instructor phrases and uses questions,
but are also shaped by the ways in which students are encouraged to generate their own questions
(Wilen, 1991). How questions are asked and answered has broader implications than mastering
content. Effective instructors “model the process of inquiry and organizing the search for
solutions for their students” (Teach Talk, 1995).
Teach Talk, a newsletter for educators dedicated to promoting best practices in the classroom,
suggests that successful questioners utilize several skills when crafting and asking good
questions. These include: phrasing and sequencing questions effectively, responding to questions
so that class time is used efficiently, keeping questions from leading to digression (unless the

7
digression is useful), and using the right tone and delivery both when asking and responding to
question. (1995)
Techniques for Successful Questioning
1. Phrasing; teacher communicates the question so that the students understand the response
expectation (ie: no run-on questions).
2. Adaptation; teacher adapts the question being asked to fit the language and ability level
of the students.
3. Sequencing; teacher asks the questions in a patterned order indicating a purposeful

questioning strategy.
4. Balance; teacher asks both convergent and divergent questions and balances the time
between the two types. The teacher uses questions at an appropriate level or levels to
achieve the objectives of the lesson.
5. Participation; teacher uses questions to stimulate a wide range of student participation,

encouraging responses from volunteering and non-volunteering students, redirects
initially asked questions to other students.
6. Probing; teacher probes initial student answers, and encourages students to complete,
clarify, expand or support their answers.
7. Wait Time (Think Time); teacher pauses three to five seconds after asking a question to
allow students time to think. The teacher also pauses after students’ initial responses to
questions in class.
8. Student Questions; teacher requires students to generate questions of their own.
The techniques listed above are straightforward points that most instructors are familiar with.
However, even though we know that these simple techniques make for best practice in the
classroom, many of us simply forget to employ them regularly. Most often forgotten is the
practice of “wait time.” Research shows that instructors wait between .7 seconds and 1.4
seconds for pupils to respond to questions. Furthermore, teachers will wait less than .7 seconds if
they believe that their students might not know the answer to the question posed. “Wait time” –
or the time an instructor waits silently between asking a question and expecting an answer – can
impact the classroom dynamic tremendously. Mary Bud Rowe first described the positive
outcomes associated with “wait time” in 1972. Rowe’s research indicated that when teacher-
directed questions were followed by at least three seconds of undisturbed silent time for students
to formulate responses, the students answered the question more successfully. Student success in
formulating answers was not the only positive outcome observed when “wait time” techniques
were introduced to classrooms. Other researchers found that regular use of “wait time” had
positive impacts on both students and teacher attitude and behaviors.

8
Student behaviors observed when increased “wait time” was introduced to the classroom:
1. Decrease in “I don’t know” responses

2. Length and accuracy of answers increased
3. The number of volunteered, appropriate responses by larger number s of students
increased.
4. Achievement test scores rose.
Teacher behaviors observed when increased “wait time” was introduced to the classroom:
1. Questioning strategies became more flexible and varied.

2. The quantity of questions asked decreased, while the quality and variety of questions
increased.
3. Higher-order, divergent questions were asked more often.
In 1985, Stahl updated Rowe’s conception of “wait time” with the introduction of “think time”.
Stahl’s idea is based upon Rowe’s research, but goes a step further, defining this time as a
“distinct period of uninterrupted silence by the teacher and all students so that they can both
complete appropriate information processing tasks, feelings, oral responses and actions” (Stahl,
1994). Stahl articulates his preference for the term “think time over “wait time” in a 1990 article
published by the Arizona State University:
1. It [think time] names primary academic purpose and activity of the period of silence thus
allowing students and teachers to complete “on-task” thinking.
2. There are numerous places where periods of silence are as important as those “wait time”
periods reported in the literature.
3. There is at least one exception labeled “impact pause time” that allows for periods of less
that 3 seconds of uninterrupted silence.
Whether calling it “wait time” or “think time,” instituting breaks between the questions and
anticipated student responses proves to be a technique that makes questions more powerful
teaching tools.
Questioning at post-secondary level
Few students, even those at graduate levels are skilled at asking higher-cognitive questions in
class, and observations of college-level instructors reveal that even at the post-secondary level,
teachers are not modeling high level divergent questioning for their students (Ciardiello, 1991).

9
APPENDIX A
BLOOM'S TAXONOMY OF THINKING SKILLS WITH BEHAVIORIAL OBJECTIVES
Illustrative General Instructional Objectives Behavioral Terms for Learning Objectives

KNOWLEDGE Example; List the bones or muscles in the arm.
Remembering or recalling learned material
Knows common terms Define, describe, identify, label, list, match,
Knows specific facts name, outline, recognize, reproduce, select
Knows methods and procedures and/or state
Knows basic concepts
Knows principles
COMPREHENSION Example; Explain how muscles operate in pairs.
Understanding or grasping meaning of material
Understands facts and principles Convert, defend, distinguish, restate, rephrase,
Interprets verbal material estimate, explain, extend, generalize, infer,
Interprets charts and graphs give examples, paraphrase, predict, rewrite,
Translates verbal material to mathematical formulae summarize
Estimates future consequences implied in data
Justifies methods and procedures
APPLICATION Example; Show the similarities between the
Using learned information in new situations bones and muscles of the arms and legs.
Applies concepts and principles to new situations Apply, change, compute, demonstrate,
Applies laws and theories to practical situations discover, illustrate, manipulate, modify, operate,
Solves mathematical problems predict, prepare, produce, relate, show, solve,
Constructs charts and graphs use
Demonstrates correct usage of a method or procedure
ANALYSIS Example; Show the similarities between the
Critically reducing arguments to elements to see their bones and muscles of the arms and legs.
relationships, organization and principles
Recognizes unstated assumptions Break down, diagram, differentiate,

Recognizes logical fallacies in reasoning discriminate, distinguish, identify, infer, outline,
Distinguishes between facts and inferences point out, relate, select, separate, subdivide
Evaluates the irrelevancy of data
An Analyses the organizational structures of a work (art, music,
writing)
SYNTHESIS Example; Design an artificial limb that will have
Forming a new whole from various parts the structural and functional abilities of an arm
or leg.
Writes a well-organized theme Categorize, combine, compile, compose,
Gives a well-organized speech create, devise, design, explain, extend,
Writes a creative short story (or poem, or music, etc.) generate, modify, organize, plan, propose,
Proposes a plan for an experiment question, rearrange, revise, reconstruct, relate,
Integrates learning from different areas into a plan for reorganize, restructure, rewrite, summarize, tell,
solving a problem write
Formulates a new scheme for classifying objects (or
events, or ideas, etc.)
EVALUATION Example; Compare the parts of a human limb
Judging based on defined criteria and an artificial limb in terms of durability,
flexibility, etc.
Judges the logical consistency of written material Appraise, assess, compare, conclude, contrast,
Judges the adequacy with which conclusions are criticize, describe, differentiate, discriminate,
supported by data document, explain, interpret, judge, justify,
Judges the value of a work by use of internal criteria relate, summarize, support
Judge the value of a work (art, music or writing) by using
external standards of excellence

10
APPENDIX B
THE AFFECTIVE DOMAIN
The taxonomy of objectives in the affective domain extends from least committed to most
committed:
1. Receiving: Being aware of or attending to something in the environment, this is the I'll-
listen-to-the-concept-but-I-won't-promise-to-like-it level.
2. Responding: Showing some new behavior as a result of experience; at this level a person
might applaud after a concert or hum some of the music the next day.
3. Valuing: Showing some definite involvement or commitment; at this point a person

might choose to go to a concert instead of a film.
4. Organization: Integrating a new value into one's general set of values, giving it some
ranking among one's general priorities; this is the level at which a person would begin to
make long-range commitments to concert attendance.
5. Characterization by value: Acting consistently with the new value; at this highest level,
a person would by firmly committed to a love of music and show it openly and
consistently.
Krathwohl, D.R., Bloom, B.S. and Masia, B.B. (1964). Taxonomy of educational objectives.
Handbook II: The affective domain. New York: David McKay and Co.

11
Asking Better Questions
Transcript of Questions from Teaching Video: BSAP (South Carolina Science Program)
Soil Texture and Color – 8th grade science class. Even without watching the video itself, you can
examine the questions asked and make judgments about their level and potential to engage
students.
Segment A 06:53:08 – 09:52:00
T “Okay now what did we get on that sheet of paper? When we poured those layers out, where
you very surprised about our results? Sean, what did we get? What did that first layer look like?
Do you remember that?
S “Rocks”
T “Okay it was mostly rocks right? What else might have been in there?”
S “Um little grains”
T “Okay, good, grains. Okay, what else?”
S “Sticks or roots”
T “Sticks, roots, acorns, very good. But mostly it was very large pieces and then these were
graded down to the very finest pieces, and Ryan, what did that very finest layer feel like to you?”
S “It was rough”
T “Okay some particles were very rough, but mostly what did it feel like? Latrika?”
S “Like powder”
T “Okay, like powder, like powder that you would even, like face powder like talcum powder or
something, okay it was very fine. Okay, so that one thing we noticed. Another thing that we
noticed from that activity were the different colors of the soil, right? Alright Corey, the different
colors of the soil, name a few of the colors that we saw.
S “Dark orange and like an orangey color”
T “A dark orange and orangey color, alright, what else? April, do you remember? Help him out
a little bit.”
S “Brown”
T “Okay some different shades of brown, alright now where did our soils come from? Sean?
Where did our soils that we used in that seive activity come from?”

12
S “Around the surrounding areas of Saluda”
T “ Alright around the surrounding areas of Saluda, and if you look up on the map of Saluda
County, we have a different soil sample from various areas of the county. If you can see that
okay? And what you see mostly –up at the top up here – are the reddish soils, alright, then these
are more brown over in here and these types of soils down here by Ridge Spring, Willy, what
type of soils do you mostly find in the Ridge Spring area?”
S “Clay”
T “Okay some clay, and what else? Brian?
S “Sand”
T “Sandy soils right? A little bit of clay in there, but mostly a lot of sand mixed in with that clay
because that’s a very sandy area.
T “Today’s activity is going to be about the texture of soil, okay? Now what does texture mean
to you? Brian, texture, tell us a little bit about texture. What are you going to do?”
S “Um, you’re going to observe it and perhaps run your fingers through it, and it’ll give you how
it feels and how it looks.”
T “Okay, how it feels and how it looks. And what is that thing Robby that we call when we use
or 5 senses? What skill are we using when we use our 5 senses to look or feel at something?”
S “A guess or hypothesis”
T “Right, okay we could be doing that. April?”
S “Observation”
T “Observation, very good, we’re going to observe.”
Section B 28:15:00 30:31:0
T “Okay, now what is the manipulated variable here? Willy, which is the manipulated variable ?
S “The type of soil”
T “The type of soil. We changed the kind of soil, right? Now when we changed that type of soil,
Tamika, which is the responding variable?
S “How much water you get (out of it)” ( )

13
T “Alright how much water over here, so those are the 2 things we’re looking at, those are the 2
variables in this activity. Now, who can tell me what a control is? Name Corey a control that we
have in our activity here.
S “How much water we put in it.”
T “That was what?” That was how much water we put in initially?”
S “That was how much water we put in all 3 of them.”
T “Well, not really, that’s not really a control.” Okay? A control, remember is something that
stays the same. It’s something that we’re going to control for in the activity. Sean, what is a
control?”
S “How much drained of the soil when we put water in and let it drain.”
T “Well, that would be our responding variable wouldn’t it? How much water that drained out.
Alicia?”
S “The amount of water we started with.”
T “Alright you started with what?”
S “150 ml”
T “150 ml Very good. Okay, on all of them. That could be one control. Brian, what is another
control?”
S “The size of what we put the soil (samples in).”
T “Alright, did we all use the same size tuna fish cans here? We did, didn’t we? Everybody had
the same size can. We all had one giant can and one small can. That’s one control. Alright, what
about the minutes we let it sit? Franklin?
S “We let it sit about at least five or ten (minutes).”

T “Alright, about the same range of time. You let them sit all exactly the same time. What about
the way Sylvester, what about the way that the soil was put into the can? Did you really pack it
in on one and just leave it laying loose in another sample?”
S “No ma’am.”
T “What did you do?”
S “ We hung it, we put it on the side and let the water just drain out from the side.”

14
T “Right, that’s exactly right. You let the water drain out the same way and you had the types of
soil samples packed in there the same way, didn’t you? So all those things are controls.”
Segment C 38:29:12 – 39:54:05
T “Okay, most of you are finished with your graph right now, let’s think a little bit about the
activity that we just completed, alright? Let me ask you some questions. Okay, first of all, Brian,
we stated that we were going to find out about soil texture right? Okay, what did you find out
about the texture of your soils? In other words, what did you find out about the water that
drained in and drained out?”
S “It was sometimes the color of the soil and it had many particles in it (the soil).”
T “What did that tell you when it was the color of the soil? For example, clay, right? That clay,
when that clay drained out, man that water was muddy wasn’t it? You could tell it came from
clay couldn’t you? What did that tell you about that soil sample?”
S “That when the water drained out of it washed away with it.”
T “Okay it washed away that clay, didn’t it? How many of you have driven by roads in our
county that have been cut or stripped and you see that red clay? What do you notice about that
red clay? Robby?
S “Its been washed (away)”
T “Its been washed. Right and what color, and we had all those rains a few weeks ago, what
color was that water running out in front of that ditch in front of school?
S “(red)”
T “Red,what did that tell you? Where did that water wash over?”
S “Clay”
T “Alright some clay, that’s exactly right. Good.”

15
APPENDIX C
HOW DOES YOUR QUESTIONING BEHAVIOR RATE?
1. How often do you challenge students by asking questions that arouse their curiosity? Do you make them
want to know more?
2. How often do you use questions to establish a foundation for new work?
3. To what extent do your questions encourage students to listen to each other’s responses, opinions?
4. How do your questions help reveal or clear up misconceptions?
5. To what extent do your questions verify the degree of comprehension of your students?
6. To what extent do your questions promote self-evaluation by your students?
7. To what extent do your questions ask students to interpret, to analyze, to think critically, to see
relationships, or to judge?
8. Does your question asking regime help build class rapport?
9. Do you ask questions to discover special interests of your students?
10. Does your question asking regime help students to feel that each one has something positive to contribute
to the class?
11. To what extent do you preplan key questions you want to ask during the lesson?
12. To what extent do you consider possible responses to these key questions and strategies to use in the event
that something goes astray?
13. To what extent do your questions call for students to think for themselves?
14. Do you ask a variety of questions— recall vs. thought questions?
15. Do you get all students involved in class discussions?
16. Do you distribute your questions both to students who volunteer to answer and to those who do not?
17. Do you distribute your questions in a widespread fashion rather than limiting them to one group of students
or one part of the room?
18. Do students speak to each other when responding or only to you?
19. Do you wait a reasonable time for students to think about their responses before calling on them or
permitting them to speak?
20. Do you accept student responses in a neutral manner or do you use verbal rewards (Good! Fine idea!
Great!) or sanctions (No! Wrong!)?
21. Do you consistently repeat students’ responses?
22. Do you encourage your students to ask questions?

16
References Cited
Brualdi, Amy C. (1998). Classroom questions. ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and

Evaluation, Washington DC.
Ciardiello, Angelo, V. (1998). Did you ask a good question today? Alternative cognitive and
metacognitive strategies. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 42(3), 210-219.
Leven, T. and Long, R. (1981). Effective instruction. Washington DC: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Ross, W. (1860). Methods of instruction. Barnard’s American Journal of Education 9, 367-79.
----- (1995) Question: What makes a good question. Teach Talk 8(1).
Wilen, William W. (1991). Questioning Skills for Teachers, third edition. National Education
Association, Washington DC.
Source:
Asking More Effective Questions, USC Center for Excellence in Teaching

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Bloom’s Taxonomy Resources & Questions Compiled–- September 23, 2016 11

Bloom’s Taxonomy Resources & Questions Compiled–- September 23, 2016 12

Bloom’s Taxonomy Resources & Questions Compiled–- September 23, 2016 13

Armstrong, P. (2016). “Bloom’s Taxonomy.” Vanderbilt University, Center for Teaching.

BloomsTaxonomy.org. “Bloom’s Taxonomy.” Retrieved September 23, 2016

Bloom’s Taxonomy Resources & Questions Compiled–- September 23, 2016 14

Faculty Roles during Discussions

Short Questions to Keep the Discussion Going and On Track

One-sentence replies that lead students to higher-order thinking.

Questions to Keep the Discussion Going 9/26/16 1

To Encourage Disciplined Online Discussions

Questions to Keep the Discussion Going

Questions that Ask for More Evidence

Questions to Keep the Discussion Going 9/26/16 2

Linking or Extension Questions

Summary and Synthesis Questions

Questions to Keep the Discussion Going 9/26/16 3

Questions to Keep the Discussion Going 9/26/16 4

William F. McComas and Linda Abraham

A Taxonomy of Question Types

Developing Engaging Questions for Online Discussions 19

Comparing Low and High Order questions:

Low order: What color is the lion in that diorama?

Comparing Convergent and Divergent questions:

Developing Engaging Questions for Online Discussions 20

Lower Level Convergent

Emphasis Memorization, recall, rote drilling

Higher Level Convergent

Emphasis Reasoning and critical thinking which usually requires some

Developing Engaging Questions for Online Discussions 21

Lower Level Divergent

Emphasis Synthesis of information and analysis of information to develop

Higher Level Divergent

Emphasis Motivate students to higher levels of thinking and encourage

Developing Engaging Questions for Online Discussions 22

Aligned to Bloom’s Synthesis & Evaluation Levels

The Matter The Personal Reality

The External Reality

Developing Engaging Questions for Online Discussions 23

Study % higher order % lower order % operational

Techniques for Asking More Effective Questions

Developing Engaging Questions for Online Discussions 24

Techniques for Successful Questioning

3. Sequencing; teacher asks the questions in a patterned order indicating a purposeful

5. Participation; teacher uses questions to stimulate a wide range of student participation,

8. Student Questions; teacher requires students to generate questions of their own.

Developing Engaging Questions for Online Discussions 25

1. Decrease in “I don’t know” responses