As a teacher, I think a lot about questions and getting students to participate in class by asking questions. I call the infamous phrase “Do you have any questions?” the meta-question.
I think that it’s a pretty terrible pedagogical move, but one that is a hard habit to break. A colleague, Su DorĂ©e at Augsburg, thinks that the meta-question is so problematic that she avoids it completely.
Ed Burger has an interesting approach to it that he shares in Making Up Your Own Mind. He writes that you should always expect questions. If you’re saying anything interesting or non-trivial, then your audience will have questions. With this in mind, a helpful re-framing of the meta-question is to say: “What are your questions that you would like to share with the group?”
Another recommendation, I’m not sure where it is from, is to say instead: “We have some extra time. Ask me two questions.”
First, a bit of an anecdote. Recently, I had an idea for a workshop that I wanted to teach. However, I was blocked on one particular aspect of setting up the workshop. I couldn’t quite come up with an experience that would convey what I wanted. So, I asked around to a couple friends. The results were not particularly great, but it kept me interested in the blockage. And then, I had a sudden insight. I realized that there was one person who would definitely have an idea. I wrote them an e-mail, and they were quick to respond with a happy tone. They solved my blockage and gave me a great idea to work with.
What I want to say with this anecodote is that knowing someone who might have a good answer to yourself is a wonderful situation to be in. You have a question. You have an audience. If you ask your question, then good things might happen. On average, I find that people are delighted to be asked about their areas of expertise.
For me, coming up with the right person to ask was a huge step.
Published: May 10, 2023 @ 17:13.
Last Modified: Feb 19, 2025 @ 21:36.
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