Turn passive lessons into active learning with Questions

Ask while the idea is still fresh

Say you’ve just explained how to write a clearer customer email. Show two replies and ask which one you would send. The learner has to use the idea they’ve just read, and you can explain what makes one reply more helpful.

You don’t need a question after every paragraph. Look for a point where someone could easily misunderstand an explanation, or where trying it once would make the next part easier.

Choose the kind of answer you need

Questions supports four formats. Choose one that suits what you want someone to think about:

• Single choice: pick one answer from a short list.
• Multiple choice: pick more than one answer.
• True or false: check a specific statement.
• Free-form: write a response in their own words.

The feedback matters as much as the question

For graded questions, write feedback for correct and incorrect answers. “Correct” confirms a choice; “This reply gives the customer a clear next action” explains it. For an incorrect answer, point out what’s missing and let the learner try again.

Free-form questions leave room for an answer that isn’t right or wrong. You might ask someone to draft their own email, then use the response text to offer a suggestion for reviewing it. Be clear that this is guidance, rather than personalised marking.

Read the answers before rewriting the lesson

Question Health shows how graded questions are being answered, and Question Answers lets you read responses. If the same choice trips up several people, check both the question and the explanation before it. An ambiguous answer can be as much of a problem as an unclear lesson.

Try adding one question to a lesson you already have. Make it about something the learner will actually need to do, and write the feedback as carefully as the question itself.