Which questioning technique encourages deeper student thinking?

Open-ended questions are a powerful questioning technique that fosters deeper student thinking because they require students to articulate their thoughts more thoroughly, analyze concepts, and explore ideas beyond simple responses. By asking questions that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no," educators prompt students to engage in critical thinking, elaborating on their ideas, reasoning, and supporting their answers with examples.

This method encourages discussion, invites different perspectives, and allows students to express their understanding in a more nuanced way. The freedom to explore their thoughts also helps students connect prior knowledge to new concepts, fostering a richer learning environment. In contrast, yes or no questions, multiple choice questions, and true or false questions tend to limit responses and often do not require the same level of cognitive engagement from students.