Which of the following is an important indicator of best teaching?

Key idea: the best indicator of effective teaching is the presence of meaningful questions from students.

Why meaningful student questions indicate good teaching:

• They show active cognitive engagement: students are thinking about, applying, or extending ideas rather than memorizing.

• They reflect a safe classroom climate: students feel comfortable expressing confusion and curiosity.

• They help teachers assess understanding in real time and adjust instruction.

Why other measures are limited:

• Number of students passing exams can reflect exam difficulty, grading, or rote learning rather than deep understanding.

• Complete silence may indicate disengagement or fear rather than productive learning.

• Attendance shows access but not the quality of learning or participation.

Practical suggestions for teachers to promote and recognise meaningful questions:

• Use open-ended prompts and wait time to encourage deeper questions.

• Respond positively to questions and build on them to model inquiry.

• Look for questions that ask for explanation, application, or extension as evidence of understanding.

Conclusion: While exam results, silence, and attendance provide some information, meaningful student questions most directly reveal whether teaching has supported understanding, curiosity, and higher-order thinking.