Encouraging questions
One technique that I found effective in encouraging students to ask questions in class was to have students write up a question at the start of class on a sheet of paper with thier name on it. I would read the question aloud in class without disclosing their name and get other students to respond or comment on the question. This encouraged participation from the entire class, showed that there was no such thing as a 'stupid question' and moreover as the weeks progressed, students who were shy in the first week of class gradually started to raise their hands and ask questions rather than penning them down on paper.
I think that this sounds like a very original approach, and encourages class participation, something that makes a class very dynamic. It can also lead to that Socratic method of answering a question with a question, thus causing the instructor to not look like the 'font' of all right answers but an instrument of dialogue and further discourse.
Great Idea! I actually use a similar method. I have the students ask questions about the text we are reading via the internet. I then read the questions in class. I am also using the portal discussion board to encourage students to ask and answer each others questions. I find that this helps build relationships with in the class which make the room a friendlier environment.
Great techniques from everyone. I use multiple approaches depending on what is most appropriate at that point in time. The one thing I do from day one in class is make sure that everyone understands that I love well thought out questions. I make sure that if they are not comfortable asking questions in front of their fellow classmates that they are absolutely encouraged to ask before or after class. The main thing is that they never feel like they can't ask a question and feel in the dark. My only caveat is that they don't ask a question they already know the answer to and are just being lazy. Also that the time and place is appropriate. some questions are best answered on the spot and others can wait.
