4. The Purposes of Teachers´ Classroom Questions

Effective questioning is an essential tool for both teachers and students. It supports learning, and constitutes an interactive process from which teachers learn about their students, and students learn about themselves.

Effective questioning helps teachers determine if lesson objectives have been met, and helps teachers determine where students really stand: their strengths, weaknesses, and needs. Teachers evaluate students´ progress, and consequently plan a course of action according to it. Teachers are able to “assess for learning”.

Classroom questions also constitute a challenge for students. Questioning requires students to become active participants of the learning process. Not only do students get to secure their knowledge about the subject, but also they reflect on their own progress. Through questioning, students assess their level of understanding about a topic, and reflect on weaknesses and needs. This will help students establish ways to improve and move forward with their learning.

Teacher´s questions aim at developing different skills or abilities. For instance, they can be aimed at developing students´ comprehension about a topic or issue, or at their ability to analyze, evaluate or make judgments. That means effective questioning develops students´ critical thinking. In addition, it builds students´ confidence about their responses and progress.

Questioning also allows teachers and students to engage in some sort of dialogue, creating a positive learning environment. Students share their insights and points of views to the whole class. There is a chance of discussion and opportunities of feedback among students.