Which type of questioning technique helps to guide students toward specific thinking?

Leading questions are designed to guide students toward a specific response or way of thinking. They often contain hints or suggest the answer within the question itself, thereby steering students in a particular direction. This technique can be particularly effective in prompting students to consider certain perspectives or to recall specific information that aligns with the instructor's teaching objectives.

For example, a leading question might ask, "What did we learn about the causes of World War II that demonstrate the importance of economic factors?" This question not only prompts students to recall specific information but also suggests that economic factors are a crucial aspect of the discussion, influencing their thought process towards that focus.

In contrast, open-ended questions allow for broader responses and may lead to more varied discussions without steering students in a specific direction. Closed questions typically require a straightforward, often binary answer and do not encourage in-depth thinking. Clarifying questions aim to deepen understanding or clear up confusion but do not specifically guide thinking toward a predetermined answer or topic in the way leading questions do.