FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)Assessment and CritiqueMedium
While debriefing a cross-country flight, an instructor asks, 'So, tell me everything about the whole flight.' The student hesitates, unsure whether to discuss navigation, weather, communications, or performance first, since the question covers too much at once. This is an example of which ineffective question type?
- ATrick question
- BToss-up question
- CIrrelevant question
- DOversized question
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Oversized question
An oversized question is too broad or general, making it difficult for the student to know where to begin or what specific information is being requested. Effective questions should be narrow and focused on a single learning point.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. There is no hidden catch here, just excessive scope.
- B. A toss-up question has an obvious answer, unlike this broad prompt.
- C. The question is on-topic, just too broad, not off-topic.
Oversized Question
A question so broad in scope that the student cannot determine what specific answer is expected.
- Confuses rather than clarifies learning objectives
- Should be broken into smaller, focused questions
- Common error when instructors ask 'What do you know about X?'
Memory trick: PTO-IT: Puzzle, Toss-up, Oversized, Irrelevant, Trick