Original scientific paper
Using questions as a tool for encouraging higher thinking processes in a social science class
Vlasta Hus
; University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
Polona Lengvart
; Primary School Bratov Polančičev, Maribor, Slovenia
Abstract
Questioning is a key element of the teaching and learning process. The aim of this research was to develop an instrument for monitoring the quality and quantity of teachers’ questions in social science classes and with the help of this instrument, to find out the number and type of questions teachers use in their social science classes in the fourth grade of primary school. For our survey, we used a descriptive causal non-experimental method. We collected data with protocol on a non-random sample of fourth-grade teachers (age of students: nine years) in different compulsory schools in the Republic of Slovenia. A total of 75 protocols were included in the data processing. Our results show that fourth-grade social science class teachers ask more low-level than high-level questions. Teachers’ questions in the social science classes do not reach sufficient levels of quality to be used as a mediation tool for developing higher-order thinking levels by their students.
Keywords
primary school; social science subject; questions
Hrčak ID:
177419
URI
Publication date:
16.6.2016.
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