Students Interviewing Students

I just came across an article on students interviewing students using specific questions as a way of helping each other and learning to communicate better.  It states that when students ask each other conversational, academic, and reflective questions, they are able to deepen their understanding. 

The idea behind having students ask each other questions is to help students learn to use questioning language because most students do not know how to do it.  I have a rule of talking to three other students to get help before coming to me and usually the either say "Are you at number 4 yet?"  Or "Can you help me?  No?  Ok."  all in one breath without waiting for an answer.  

When we teach students to ask each other questions to elicit information, we are helping them become more independent.  Furthermore, it is important to have the questions written out at the beginning since most students don't know how to begin.  These questions are used in conjunction with a partner activity.  So for the first few times before doing the activity, list the questions on the board so they have guidelines. 

In the activity, two students work together, each is give a task or a problem.  They spend the first 5 to 7 minutes working on the problem without talking to each other.  During this part, they may not ask each other for help.  When time is up, they each get a list of questions and they write their partner's name on this interview sheet.  The first person begins to interview the second person using questions from the list. 

Some of the questions are as follows but the first question is always the first question.

1.  "When you read the question, how does it make you feel?"

2. "Do you understand the problem was you were asked to solve?"

3.  "How did you solve the rest of the problem?" "What steps did you take and why?"

4.  "Was there a point you got stuck?"

5. "Did you give up or did you figure out a way to move forward?"  "What did that step help you know or figure out?"

6. "How did you know what to do?"

At the end, the two students switch and the second student interviews the first, asking many of the same questions.  Once the interviews are over, the students can help each other to finish their problems.  Not all these questions will be asked every time but the choice will be based on what the answers are.  

These questions help guide students as they formulate verbal expression of their thinking.  It helps them put their thoughts together, learn to use vocabulary, and explain their thinking.  I think it is a cool idea.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great week.