Comprehension Questions
Questions that query students' comprehension.
Use comprehension questions when you want the learner to be able to translate information, extrapolate ideas, or interpret information. The student is asked to be literal in his/her thinking.
Use of Comprehension Questions
Use comprehension questions to have the students use content information. Ask them to translate that information into a new form which displays their understanding of the material.
Key Crafting Words
- State in your own words
- State in one word
- Compare, contrast
- What does this mean...?
- Give an example
- Condense this paragraph
- What expectations are there
- What are they saying
- Which statements support
- Translate, judge, classify, select, match, explain, represent. etc.
- Is this the same as...
- Is it valid that...
- What would happen if ...
Example
Compare the natural resources of Pennsylvania and Texas.
Technology and Rationale
Comprehension of material suggests that students be asked to convey their perception of the information. Depending on the level of student knowledge that you want to target, you may want to supplement the discussion with synchronous techniques (e.g., live chat) that allows the learner to further demonstrate their understanding of the content.