MAGNA 20-MINUTE MENTORS

20-Minute Mentors

What if a Student Asks a Question I Can’t Answer?

Learn how to respond to even the toughest questions that students pose with confidence and credibility. We help you develop a reliable strategy for fielding students questions without losing your cool or undermining your credibility.

Teacher calls on student with very confused look

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Campus Access License

With the purchase of the optional Campus Access License, registrants are granted a license to download the program contents to a password-protected network, server, or website for additional staff use. You will receive information on downloading the contents of the program within 3-5 business days.

What if a Student Asks a Question I Can’t Answer?

Students view professors as experts and authority figures.

Because of this, when a student asks a difficult question in class and you don’t know the answer, it’s easy to feel flustered, embarrassed and anxious.

  • Should you stumble through your response?
  • Ramble off on a tangent?
  • Make something up on the spot?

There’s no need for any of that.

Develop a reliable teaching technique strategy for fielding students questions without losing your cool or undermining your credibility.

In this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, the presenter outlines an effective method for managing these difficult moments.

Learning Goals

This teaching strategies seminar will help you:

  • Consider the negative implications of certain strategies
  • Overcome reluctance to ask students if they have questions
  • Cite research on the importance of encouraging students to ask questions
  • Say, “I don’t know” in a variety of appropriate ways
  • Identify better response alternatives

Topics Covered

In What if a Student Asks a Question I Can’t Answer?, you will learn how to:

  • Employ an effective three-step method for handling difficult questions
  • Identify responses that work well for you…and others that miss the mark
  • Modify strategies for the research it yourself approach
  • Use clarification and acknowledgement in dealing with tough questions
    • Increase your confidence and credibility in the classroom
    • Make class preparation more manageable
    • Recognize the pros and cons of your current response repertoire

Takeaways

Supplemental materials include:

  • Examples of different classroom situations in various academic disciplines to illustrate a range of teaching applications
  • A suggested framework of Response Dos and Don’ts
  • Questions for Further Discussion
  • A list of Recommended Resources

Purchase

Order What if a Student Asks a Question I Can’t Answer? now and learn to develop a reliable strategy for fielding students questions without losing your cool or undermining your credibility.

Product Code: PM10AA

Meet Your Presenter

Teacher calls on student with very confused look

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20-Minute Mentors

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