Kauchak

#1 According to Kauchak (1998) what are three functions of teacher questions? What role does technology play with accomplishing these functions?

The first function of questions serves to assess current understanding. By asking questions the teacher is able to better understand what his/her students understand. From here the teacher can help build their knowledge base, correct misconceptions, and determine if they are ready to learn more. The second function is to increase motivation. Questions engage each student and feeds their desire to learn more. Good questions will challenge their thinking or ask them to look at a concept from a different point of view. Lastly, questions guide the student to new learning. As Kauchak states, questions help "students interrelate new ideas and integrate new learning with their current understanding." Questions can serve as the glue which helps students connect what they already know to a new concept.

Technology can greatly assist teachers in using the three functions of questions. Power Point presentations can provide images to look at, or ideas to debate. It will serve to help draw the students into the lesson, as well as giving them more information to consider. Blogging is also another great way to incorporate these concepts. As students we can ask use our blog to respond to questions that we have been asked. It allows us to fully develop our thoughts and verbalize what we have learned.