In most Bible classes, the teacher asks students various questions. Most of these questions tend to be about the facts of the lesson. While we have shared many times about the need to ask your students different types of questions, some new research has added a critical twist.
Researchers shared in an article in Applied Cognitive Psychology that using a crucial twist in questioning improved students’ ability to remember new material. They found that when students generated questions about the material they were studying, they did fourteen percent better on subsequent tests. While fourteen percent improvement may not sound significant, for some of your Bible students it can mean the difference between knowing or not knowing what God wants them to do in a real life situation.
The researchers found student generated questions had other benefits for learners. The process of generating more difficult questions also helped them think more deeply about the material. Researchers didn’t test the impact on long term memory of the material, but since repetition is a key component of moving material to long term memory, one could assume that would also improve.
So what would this look like in a Bible class setting? When you are completing several lessons on a particular person or topic in the Bible, take a few minutes for reviewing the material you have covered. Instead of generating questions the students must answer, have them ask questions about what you have just studied.
The execution can take on varied forms to make it more fun for students. Have them ask their questions in situations where perhaps you, their parents, your minister or other “special guests” try to answer them. Encourage them to dig deeper and ask questions about the material that will stump the “panel of experts”. Make it fun, but find ways to encourage all of your students to participate in asking questions.
You can also have students work in small groups to create a Jeopardy or other game that requires them to create questions as part of the game development. Or have them create a “test” on the material, which they can take home and give to someone or take themselves.
Having students generate questions on the material covered in Bible classes can have a significant positive impact on their retention of key material. It’s worth taking the time to periodically allow students to generate questions in your Bible classes.