<p>Is this a skill that’s gradually acquired during graduate school or should I already know how to ask questions by now? I find that it’s easier to ask questions when I’m working one-on-one with someone in lab but that it becomes difficult during big lectures or seminars, when I become lost or just can’t think of an interesting question even though I find the topic incredibly interesting. I’d like to become an active member of the audience but am really unsure of how to do so at the moment.</p>
<p>I think I’m just bad at asking questions and am wondering if anyone has any tips for someone like me. How do people come up with questions during lectures? How are interesting questions formulated? What are good questions and what are bad ones? Has anyone gone through this situation and would like to share? Thanks!</p>
<p>I ask questions based on what I want to do and don’t know. So, for instance, if I want to use some device, I need to ask questions such as: “what is the control scheme” and “what is the limitation”</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a skill gradually acquired during grad school. But I do think you can actively improve your questioning ability. The key is imagination. When you hear a fact, you need to wonder. For example, if someone’s showing you a piece of equipment, you might start wondering how to use it, when to use it, when not to use it, its power, its drawbacks, etc. If you hear a fact about linear algebra, you need to wonder what if X, what if Y, etc. Wondering about things will bring lots of questions to bear. Having a good knowledge foundation also helps a lot.</p>