Promoting the Formulation of Good Questions in Secondary Education Biology Classes: a pedagogical proposal based on problem situations

Abstract As students continue to take on more autonomy in teaching and learning processes, it is important to discuss strategies for developing their skills in formulating good questions. Indeed, instilling concrete strategies for students to craft good questions is a current challenge in science education research. In this article, we analyze how written discourse activities based on problem situations favor good question formulation among secondary school students. These activities were carried out over four class sessions during the development of a basic science education Program Unit, “Structure and Function of the Plasma Membrane”. Results show that student participation under these research conditions progressively improved the cognitive level of questions formulated as the Program Unit progressed.