Stick With You
With Stick With You, a student’s (correct or incorrect) answer to a question is followed-up with at least one closed question, designed to find out more about the specific things they know or understand.
(This is slightly different to the Drill Down technique, whereby an open question is used as a follow-up, such as ‘Could you say a bit more about that’.]
Why use this technique?
This technique is useful for helping students to think harder about particular content, developing knowledge connections and strengthening memory. It also helps you glean more formative information about a student’s learning than a single question would have.
Example
In a biology lesson…
Teacher: ‘Can you remind us what the reactants and products in photosynthesis are please... Neil?’
Neil: ‘Carbon dioxide and water are the reactants; oxygen and sugar are the products.’
Teacher: ‘Good. And sticking with you, could you tell us what else needs to be present for photosynthesis to happen, please?’
Neil: ‘Sunlight.’
Teacher: ‘Good. And what chemical do plants have that helps them trap sunlight?’
Neil: ‘Chlorophyll.’
Teacher: ‘Perfect. Well done.’
Focused reflection
How well do you currently use this technique?
Is it a technique you will focus on developing?
If so, what are the key features you will focus on (things to do, and not do)?