Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 14 Instructional Methods 315 Responding to Students’ Answers How should you respond to students’ answers to your spoken questions? That depends on the answer and the situation. If an answer is inaccurate, an effective response helps lead students to the right answer. Saying, “No, that’s wrong!” discourages further participation. Instead, a teacher may say, “Let’s look at this again,” or “Let me state the question in a different way.” Some answers are partially correct. A teacher should acknowledge what is accurate first. For example, “Yes, using a virus protection program is one way of protecting personal information, but using an alias may not be appropriate. Who can suggest other steps to take?” In responding to answers, teachers can help students process learning by posing follow-up questions to the class. Teachers usually develop these on the spot, which can lead to deeper understanding. Responding to Students’ Questions Not all questions are teacher initiated. In an interactive learning environment, students feel free to ask questions (Figure 14.6). These deserve a thoughtful and respectful response. If the ques- tion furthers the discussion, the teacher can pro- vide an answer or counter with another question. What happens if you are teaching and a stu- dent asks a question you cannot answer? It is fine to acknowledge that you do not have an answer. You can say that you will find one and get back to the student or class. You could also ask if anyone else has an answer or help the student figure out how to find an answer. Many times questions are slightly off topic. In that case, it is best to give a brief answer to avoid distracting other learners from the lesson. A ques- tion may be interesting, but definitely off track. A good way to respond would be to say, “That is an interesting question but not what we are discuss- ing right now. If you stay after class, we can talk about it.” Sometimes, students’ questions are inappropriate in their timing or are personal in nature, but still require a reply. For example, a kindergartener may ask about your personal life in the middle of a lesson. Helping the student understand when a question is appropriate is an important part of education. Using Examples When a teacher presents new information, sometimes it is difficult for students to grasp the concept. Often, however, when the teacher offers a concrete example, everything falls into place. Examples help bring infor- mation to life for learners. The use of examples increases understanding and retention of subject matter. Examples can show how theory applies to the real world. Other times, as in math, they help make sense of a process. When learning is complex, using multiple examples can improve understanding for more students. asiseeit/E+/Getty Images Figure 14.6 Responding to student questions in a thoughtful and respectful manner keeps students engaged in an interactive learning environment.