Why using 'hands up' is a poor teaching technique
Put your hands up if you know the answer to this? Yes, Chris. Great response. Put your hands up if you know the answer to this? Yes, Chris. Great answer, again. Put your hands up if you know answer to this? Yes, Chris. Great answer, again. Sound familiar?
What could this teacher do better in the classroom? By asking students to raise their hands in response to a question, this teacher is letting students know that if they don’t know the answer, they won’t be chosen, and they don’t need to engage. There are a few things that are implicitly reinforced to students when teachers use this as a strategy to check for understanding: students are not cognitively engaged, the perception of success and failure is skewed, it does not welcome a culture of error, and it builds a culture of perceived favouritism.
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Great article Michael. Looking forward to Read your next article on different strategies for assessment. My favorites are randomizers, post it notes, think pair share...
Really liked this. Never imagined a strategy like this could be ineffective. I've been using the 'put your hand up ' strategy for 13-14 yrs now as a warm up to check prior knowledge or as a plenary as a recap of concepts learnt . Waiting for more info on the combination of other strategies in your next article.
Head of Geography, The King’s School
4 年Great article Michael. I like your take on hands up lulling students into believing they are experiencing success. Makes me want to commit in 2021 to using mini whiteboards as a strategy to increase means of participation.