Wait Time (Pausing for Student Thinking)
Wait Time (Pausing for Student Thinking)
Wait time, or pausing for student thinking, means a deliberate pause that a teacher allows after asking a question before prompting for a response. Teaching well without wait time is very essential as it helps to deepen the cognitive processing of students, allows students to organize their ideas, and develops participation, which as a result leads to enriched classroom discussions.
Why is wait time important in the classroom?
The crux of wait time is its function in enhancing students' critical thinking on their answers thus improving their understanding and retention of learning material. In such a situation when the master would give 3-5 seconds of silence after a question, students would feel comfortable engaging in more complex thinking, asking extra questions, and participating in more meaningful discussions. For instance, after the teacher gives a difficult question on a literary theme, he/she might wait, thus giving students a chance to think about and express their ideas more clearly.
How can teachers effectively implement wait time?
Teachers can use wait time by purposely stopping after a question is asked before they call on a student or make room for responses. One possibility could be to practice by silently counting up to three in their heads before making a move. On the other hand, teachers can exhibit this attitude by underscoring the fact that careful responses are esteemed, therefore constructing a culture where silence is not awkward but a chance for real thinking. For example, a teacher could, after posing a science-related question, say something like, 'Take a moment to think about your answer before sharing.'
What are the different types of wait time and their effects?
Two forms of wait time are identified. Wait time one, which is the time needed after a question has been asked and before the student gives any answer, and wait time two, which is the time goes by after a student gives his answer and before the teacher gives feedback. Wait time one is a tool to bring all students to think and respond, on the other hand, wait time two in turn gets students to make further knowledge of alternative answers. Studies have proven that the effective employment of both means can lead to higher student responses and better academic achievements, in particular in subjects that demand critical thinking.
What challenges might teachers face when using wait time?
The need of teachers facing the uncomfortable situation with silence that might bring them to fill the wait with comments or answers that are not necessary and in this way minimize the aim of the purpose of wait time. Besides this, a number of students being unused to the deep thinking of such pauses, may cause initial reluctance in responding. Teachers may surmount these barriers by including longer wait time in their routines gradually, reassuring students that it is okay to take time to think and providing an environment respecting each input like in the case of think-pair-share activities.