As an educator for fifteen years, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to observe the way teachers and students interact. In my experience, there are two basic techniques that educators use to communicate with their students. One of these techniques is widely accepted but extremely ineffective, and the other is less traditional but excellent at engaging students and promoting learning.
The first technique is the traditional “telling interaction”. Here is an example:
Student: “Is this essay good?”
Teacher: “Yes/No”
With this technique, the interaction begins with the student asking a question and ends with the teacher giving the student the answer. This is considered the traditional teaching mechanism, and unfortunately it is how the majority of classrooms are structured.
Even though this is the most popular technique, it is also extremely ineffective. The “telling interaction” doesn’t encourage critical thinking, ownership, empowerment or student motivation. It produces a quick, disengaged interaction during which the teacher maintains the power as the party with all the answers.
The second technique is far more effective, albeit less traditional. This is the “empowering interaction” and it creates engaged problem-solvers through the use of empowering questions. Here is an example:
Student: “Is this essay good?”
Teacher: “Tell me more about…”
The “empowering interaction” encourages students to take ownership of their learning through dialog and discussion. It increases engagement, interaction, problem solving, self-satisfaction and retention of material. With this method, the teacher and student have an in-depth discussion on the topic, during which the student is an equal-share player, possessing knowledge and answers.
Do you see how the second, non-traditional “empowering method” would be more effective than the traditional “telling interaction?” Here are some more examples of questions and answers for the two different communication techniques:
Telling Interaction:
Student: "Is this correct?"
Teacher: "Yes/No"
Student: "Is this good?"
Teacher: "Yes/No"
Student: "What’s wrong with this?"
Teacher: "Yes/No"
Student: "Is this what you want?"
Teacher: "Yes/No"
Empowering Interaction:
Student: "Is this correct?"
Teacher: "How did you arrive at this?"
Student: "Is this good?"
Teacher: "Tell me more…"
Student: "What’s wrong with this?"
Teacher: "I’m curious as to…"
Student: "Is this what you want?"
Teacher: "What do you think?"