Week 1 Resources (Building Community)

Asking questions — either in discussion forums or as a feedback technique in reviewing a learner’s paper or assignment — can help learners clarify their thinking, shift perspectives, go to a deeper level of analysis, and reflect on their learning. When learners get stuck, effective facilitators can use questions to enhance learning. By posing convergent or divergent, open or closed, high or low level and structured or unstructured questions they enhance learners’ knowledge and comprehension.

Asking good questions helps to ensure that learners assume and maintain responsibility for their own learning and reinforces the instructor’s role in guiding, not directing, the individual’s learning.

Doug Hamilton (0:40)