Effective questioning is one of the most impactful tools in a teacher’s toolkit. It deepens understanding, encourages curiosity, and actively involves students in the learning process. In the article “A Questioning Classroom: 13 Techniques for Teachers”, education writer Matt Bromley outlines a range of questioning strategies designed to energise classroom dialogue and promote critical thinking.
Key Techniques for a Questioning Classroom
Here are three practical techniques from the article that educators can apply immediately:
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Wait Time – After asking a question, wait three to five seconds before calling on a student. This gives all learners time to process and develop deeper responses, not just the quickest thinkers.
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Cold Calling – Rather than relying on volunteers, randomly selecting students to answer helps keep everyone engaged and accountable. It also spreads participation more evenly across the class.
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Open-Ended Questions – Questions that require explanation rather than one-word answers help students build reasoning skills and express their thinking more fully.
Each of these approaches helps to shift classroom questioning from a passive recall exercise into a meaningful learning conversation.
Here are the practical steps based on the questioning techniques discussed in the article:
- Open-ended Questions: Use questions that start with "why", "how", or "what if?" to encourage deep thinking and diverse responses.
- Socratic Questioning: Guide students through a series of probing questions to help them discover knowledge and analyse concepts.
- Question-Response-Evidence-Explanation (QREE): Have students answer a question, provide evidence, and explain their reasoning.
- Think-Pair-Share: Ask a question, let students think individually, discuss with a partner, and then share with the class.
- Brainstorming Questions: Begin lessons with brainstorming sessions to generate questions related to the topic.
- Entry and Exit Tickets: Use questions at the start and end of classes to gauge understanding and learning.
- Reflective Questions: Ask questions that prompt students to reflect on their learning experiences and progress.
- Problem-solving Questions: Present real-world problems and ask students how they would solve them.
- Harkness Discussion Method: Arrange students in a circle and let them lead discussions by posing questions to each other.
- Bloom's Taxonomy: Use questions at different cognitive levels to scaffold learning and engage students.
- Formative Assessment: Use questions to assess understanding during lessons and adjust teaching accordingly.
- Role Reversal: Let students pose questions to their peers, promoting leadership and deeper understanding.
- Visual Aids and Stimuli: Use visuals or real-world examples to generate questions and make concepts relatable.
These steps can help create a dynamic and engaging questioning classroom.
Why It Matters
When used consistently, effective questioning strategies can:
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Build a more inclusive learning environment
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Promote equity by encouraging contributions from all students
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Help teachers assess understanding in real time
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Encourage students to articulate, defend, and refine their ideas
These techniques aren't about asking more questions—they're about asking better ones, and creating the space for students to think and respond meaningfully.
Final Thoughts
Creating a questioning classroom means being intentional about how and when we ask questions. It means valuing thinking time, inviting all voices, and expecting students to stretch their ideas. With small, deliberate changes, teachers can significantly increase student engagement and learning depth.
📝 Explore all 13 techniques in Matt Bromley’s article here: A Questioning Classroom: 13 Techniques for Teachers