Climate Change in the Classroom

Asking a question of the class and receiving an incorrect answer can create a challenging situation. How the instructor responds often sets the climate for future question and answer sessions.

To help maintain a nurturing climate, Richard Paul, in his book titled Critical Thinking, suggested the instructor respond to an incorrect answer by using one or more of the following.

What do you mean by _____?
Can you give me an example of _____?
How does that relate to the question?
All of your answer depends on the idea that _____.
Why did you base your answer on this rather than _____?
What are your reasons for saying this?
Let me see if I understood you. Do you mean _____?
Could you explain your answer further?
Can you rephrase your answer?
What I heard you say was _____. Is that what you meant?
Let me rephrase the question. Now, what do you think?

*Paul, Richard. 1995. Critical Thinking: How to Prepare Students for a Rapidly Changing World. Dillion Beach: Foundation for Critical Thinking.