A thoughtful lesson begins with the thinking we make possible for students.
I see teaching as more than providing an answer. It involves creating a situation in which a learner can question, explain, and return to an idea. A pause after a question can make room for meaning when it is followed by careful listening.
In the perspective on conscious learning that I explore in The Architecture of Conscious Learning, questioning connects with other learning domains. A question may lead to discovery, reveal a connection, or invite a learner to revise an interpretation.
One step for your next lesson
Choose one question that requires an explanation, such as: “What evidence supports your answer?” Give students time to think and write, then discuss two different explanations before offering your own.
A question for reflection
After the lesson, ask yourself: did I hear how my students thought, or only what they answered?