Great Questions

          One of the most exciting things in teaching is to hear students begin to ask great question.  Great questions come when a student grasps what is being taught and sees a further application of the principle.  Or a student understand the concept but sees a situation in which it does not seem to apply.  Great questions, contrary to what we think intuitively, demonstrate understanding and knowledge.  

          I am collecting great questions on this web page to demonstrate to students in the future.  Some of their "greatness" depends upon the timing and the context, like a good joke.  Nonetheless, they are here for you to enjoy and - maybe - learn from.

          For asking a great question, students can use it toward 5% credit on a test (summative or formative) or they even use their questions, if they have the most in their class, to SKIP a test with no penalty (grade is excused in the gradebook.)  That demonstrates how much great questions are worth!

Phase changes

Student:  Justin Lee, grade 9, 2008

Topic:  Heat and energy

Class:  Chemistry 1

Question:  [after discussing states of matter] "If you heat your skin, which is a solid, how come it does not turn into a liquid like other solids do?"

States of matter

Student:  Peter Kim, grade 9, 2008

Topic:  Heat and energy

Class:  Chemsitry 1

Question:  [after discussing states of matter] "Is there anything that has more energy in it than a gas?"


Copyright 2012 Jay Reimer    (You can email me at jay.reimer@gmail.com