How to Teach Your Students

to Think Like Experts

Peter Newbury

Center for Teaching Development, UC San Diego

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pnewbury@ucsd.edu peternewbury.org

@polarisdotca #CSUgrit

March 13, 2015

Remember, some of these questions are deliberately bad!

clarity Students waste no effort trying to figure out what’s

being asked.

context Is this topic currently being covered in class?

learning

outcome

Does the question make students do the right things

to demonstrate they grasp the concept?

distractors What do the “wrong” answers tell you about

students’ thinking?

difficulty Is the question too easy? too hard?

stimulates

thoughtful

discussion

Will the question engage the students and spark

thoughtful discussions? Are there openings for you

to continue the discussion?

What makes a good question?

(Adapted from Stephanie Chasteen, CU Boulder) Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts

clarity context learning outcome distractors

difficulty stimulates thoughtful discussion

Thinking like experts