Suggestion 58. Paraphrase student questions

IF YOU WANT TO:

• Encourage class discussion

• Respond to student questions

• Avoid private dialogues in the classroom

Paraphrasing student questions.

"In a large class it is important either to repeat students' questions or to integrate the question into your responses," a teacher in the biological sciences notes. "Otherwise, many of the students will not have heard the question and you will find yourself in a private dialogue in which the class does not participate."

Another teacher notes the importance of paraphrasing students' questions especially if it is not clear what the question is. This professor says to the students, "If I understand your question, you want to know under what conditions X does not function in that way. Is that correct?"

Often by paraphrasing a very narrow question, a teacher is able to elevate the question to a higher order and incorporate both the specific and the general case in his or her response. This tends to increase the interest level of the students.

Limitations on Use of Suggestion

  Discipline:  None
Course Level:  None
 Course Size:  None, but especially useful in large classes
        Mode:  None

Copyright 1983 by the Regents of the University of California

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