Successful learning in college involves so much more than just the time spent reading text books and taking notes. Learning must be an integrated process, a process that not only involves passive participation, but active participation as well. In fact, when the student decides to take an active approach to her learning, she will usually find that the whole process comes more naturally. A crucial aspect of the active learning process is being willing to ask questions in the classroom discussion. Here are just a few of the reasons that asking questions is critical to the learning process.
Integrated Learning
Taking notes and memorizing facts is a left brained activity. Perfectionists love this learning style because it is predictable and organized. And for some subjects, it is highly appropriate, like foreign language classes or class topics that require the memorization of lists such as chemistry or biology. The use of flash cards with words on one side and definitions on another are an efficient way to memorize all of the information for a test. But what about the essay questions? Many college professors end their tests with a host of essay questions, all designed to see how integrated the new information really is in your mind. Anyone can regurgitate facts, but knowing facts does not necessarily constitute knowledge. This is where class discussion comes into play. When the professor opens the floor for discussion and questions, it is imperative that every student take an active role in the process. For asking questions and contributing to the discussion involves not only the left brain, but the right brain as well. The classroom question and answer period often brings the objective facts down to practical realities. It allows the students to see real life application of the facts. And when those essay questions appear on the test, the active class participant will have no problem answering the essay questions with confidence.
Filling In The Gaps
College professors are extremely limited by the amount of time designated for each class, and often the students are left to themselves to fill in the gaps before a test is given. This is why it is so important to complete each reading assignment. But even reading assignments can raise a whole host of new questions. If the student does not take an active role in asking those questions in class, then the student will be underprepared for the exams. Even the completion of reading assignments is not fool proof, for many students must speed read in order to complete all of the assignments on their plate. If each student kept a list of a few questions to ask during the next class discussion period, then most, if not all of the information gaps would be filled. And you never know, the questions you ask might not only be beneficial for you, but for everyone else in the class. So don't be afraid to ask all of your questions!
Making Learning Fun
Active learning is so much more enjoyable than passive learning. It can be especially hard to stay awake in a class if you just had lunch and the classroom is a comfy seventy degrees. Before you know it, you might be nodding off. And then when the test comes around, you will be wondering where on earth all the questions came from! But if you decide to take an active role in your classroom time, it will be much harder to get bored or to fall asleep. You will find that not only does learning come easier, but the classroom time becomes more fun and you might actually look forward to it. And how much easier is it to remember information while you are having fun than while you are propping your eyelids open with your pencil? Think about it. You can probably recall much of your experience the last time you visited a theme park, but how much can you remember about your surroundings the last time you sat at a light waiting for it to turn green?
As you can see, taking an active role in your learning is critical to the learning process, and critical to your ability to process information, even when that information is incredibly boring or impractical. A willingness to ask questions in the classroom will not only boost your grades, but will make class time so much more fun and worthwhile.