Ask good questions to get better grades after midterm exams

I know some of my students are puzzled about how to get better grades in the weeks following their midterm exams.  I also know that very few of these students will ask questions, which could happen for any number of reasons.

Shyness should not prevent you from asking questions.

The whole point of attending college is to learn about things that you don’t already know.  If you're too shy to raise your hand during class, ask at the end of class, write an email or schedule a meeting.

Inform yourself before asking your question. 

Sometimes professors will refuse to answer certain questions when the answers are readily available in the required coursework.  For example, I might refer a student to the textbook if the question is about a simple definition.  However, I will be happy to explain an issue if a student can distinguish the difference between two concepts, but has trouble seeing how they could apply at once in the same scenario.

Focus your questions on comprehension instead of marks.

Your professors already know that your marks are important to you and that you want a high GPA.  It is one thing to ask “why did I lose five marks?” and another to explain that you answered a question to the best of your ability and would like to know what you missed or how you could improve your answers in the future.

In education, the cliché "everyone learns differently" is repeated to no end.  Maybe this boring idea contains a kernel if truth, but I'm not persuaded that all 30-or-so students in any given class have remarkably unique learning styles.  Attending class is important for everyone, and likewise asking questions can help anyone learn new things or feel secure that their understanding is correct.