Lecture Notes: Effective Teaching Strategies

Introduction

• Importance of improving teaching approaches
• Small tip with significant impact

Common Pitfall in Teaching

• Question to Avoid: "Do you understand?"
  • Often asked in classrooms worldwide
  • Leads to misleading responses from students
  • Students may say "yes" without real understanding or just to avoid further questioning

Why Avoid This Question?

• Does not genuinely assess comprehension
• Can lead to false confidence in both teacher and student
• Ignores the complexity of understanding

Alternative Approach: Concept Check Questions (CCQs)

• Definition: Questions that effectively check comprehension of a concept
• Purpose: To elicit a true demonstration of understanding

Examples of CCQs

1. Yes or No Questions

   • E.g., Show an image of puppies: "Are these scary?" (Expecting "No")
   • Show something scary: "Is this scary?" (Expecting "Yes")

2. Synonyms and Antonyms

   • Ask for another word for "scary"
   • Ask for the opposite of "scary"

3. Usage in Sentences

   • Have students use the word "scary" in a sentence

4. Contextual Questions

   • E.g., "What do you do if you see something scary?"
   • E.g., "Where is the scariest place in your city?"

5. Creative Expression

   • Ask students to draw something scary or mimic their feelings when seeing something scary

Importance of CCQs

• Provides concrete evidence of understanding
• Helps identify areas needing re-teaching if comprehension is lacking
• Encourages active participation and critical thinking

Conclusion

• Avoid the question "Do you understand?"
• Implement CCQs as a standard practice in teaching
• Engage students in demonstrating their understanding effectively

Final Note

• Encourage reflection and feedback
• Stay tuned for future teaching tips and strategies