Here is a chance to test your understanding of questioning within coaching conversations. Consider each example on the right, (see below) decide if it is a controlling or neutral question, and then drag and drop it in a box underneath either controlling or neutral question headings. When you have finished select How have I done? for feedback. Text version of this screen
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Here is a chance to test your understanding of questioning within coaching conversations. Consider each of the following examples and decide if it is a controlling or neutral question. You will then be given the answers followed by some feedback.
Examples:
- What made you ask that question then?
- What did you learn from the students' responses?
- How did the students respond to that question?
- What is it about giving feedback that you find difficult?
- You planned for a plenary. Why didn't you do it?
- What did you learn from the students' responses?
The answers are:
Controlling questions
- What made you ask that question then?
- You planned for a plenary. Why didn't you do it?
- What is it about giving feedback that you find difficult?
Neutral questions
- How did the students respond to that question?
- What did you learn from the students' responses?
- What might help students understand better next time?
Feedback:
Controlling questions
An underlying problem of controlling questions is that the phrasing can often imply subtle blame. These questions imply both criticism and a requirement for the teacher to justify their actions. Assumptions are being made that the teacher has a fault in their teaching.
Neutral questions
These types of questions are open and enable the teacher to diagnose a situation, identifying positive and negative outcomes. Neutral questions encourage the teacher to reflect back on training and apply it.