The impact of open ended questions on a child's learning

When taking your teaching to the next level, the use of open ended questions can be a game-changer. These thought provoking queries not only stimulate children, but also foster deeper understanding and critical thinking. Despite their undeniable benefits, many educators still find themselves defaulting to closed questions that elicit simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses. How can you ensure using open ended questions and enrich the learning experiences for children?

What are open questions?

Open questions invite children to embark on a journey of exploration, investigation, and critical contemplation. The aim is to encourage children to delve into their thoughts, actions and to critically think about the world around them. Giving answers that entail more than just a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. For children to effectively respond to open questions, it’s imperative that they become accustomed to this type of inquiry. As teachers, this necessitates patience and the creation of a conducive environment that fosters deep thinking.

Open questions invite children to embark on a journey of exploration, investigation, and critical contemplation.

Fostering open questions in your classroom:

• Engaging learning provocations: One effective way to cultivate open questioning is by setting up engaging learning provocations. When children are intrinsically motivated to explore, they naturally embark on a journey of play, experimentation, and adaptation. These actions often occur organically, with minimal intervention. These processes are crucial and lay the groundwork for open questioning.
• Observation as a key: Observation plays an important role in the use of open questions. It provides valuable insight into a child’s capabilities and paves the way for guiding them to the next level of understanding. By closely observing their actions and thoughts, educators can tailor their questions to stimulate deeper thinking.
• Asking open-ended questions: Following observations, it’s time to pose open-ended questions. These inquiries are designed to encourage children to create a more profound understanding of the topic at hand. Some examples of open ended questions include ”Why did you choose to change this?” “What do you predict will happen next?” and “How do you think this works?”. These questions encourage children to contemplate and articulate their thoughts.

The role of open ended questions in whole class discussions:

During classroom discussions, open ended questions continue to have an important role. They act as catalysts for uncovering and exploring the thoughts and ideas of the children. To ensure you can dig beyond the surface, follow these steps:

• Preparation and flexibility: Effective use of open ended questions requires preparation. HAve a set of questions ready to initiate children’s thinking about the topic. Remain flexible to adapt your questions based on the responses you receive. Sometimes a single question can lead to unexpected avenues of exploration that are word pursuing.
• Patience: Encouraging children to think deeply takes time. Allow them the space to formulate their responses without rushing them or providing answers or options. You’ll be amazed at the inventive theories and insights they come up with when given the opportunity to think deeply.
• Active listening: In any conversation, listening is essential. To harness the power of open questions, approach each conversation with an open mind, fresh perspective, and flexibility. Dare to let children take the lead, listen attentively to their voices, and respond accordingly.

The power of open-ended questions is a well known fact. It can unlock the potential of children, fostering a deeper understanding and critical thinking skills. By employing these questions, educators can create an environment where children are encouraged to explore, inquire and contemplate, enriching their learning experiences. Step back, observe, listen and let the children take the lead of your next learning adventure. Watch your students embark on a journey of deeper understanding and self-discovery.