Questions serve a number of essential purposes. For example they:
· Give immediate feedback on pupils’ understanding, which can
then be used by the teacher to modify the teaching.
· Help pupils to develop their thinking from the lower order concrete
and factual recall type to the higher order analytical and evaluative
which promote deeper understanding. Higher order questions help
pupils explore ideas and make connections, helping pupils see the
"big picture" of the learning. This in turn leads to greater motivation
and improved engagement.
· Prompt pupils to inspect their existing knowledge and experience
to create new understandings. Articulating understanding helps to
clarify it and improves the likelihood that it will be retained.
· Focus pupils on the key issues and enable teachers and pupils to
see progress over time.
· Model for pupils how experienced learners seek meaning- moving
them towards greater independence.