Final answer:
The four-question technique is applicable to activities like listening to a lecture, reading a text, and watching a video by promoting active learning and engagement. Students should ask questions, make connections, and critique the content actively to enhance understanding and retention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the four-question technique can indeed be applied to typically passive activities such as listening to a lecture, reading a text, and watching an instructional video. This approach is centered around active learning, which contrasts with passive consumption of information. When engaged in these activities, students should be encouraged to formulate questions, make connections, critique the material, and reflect on the content. For example, while listening to a lecture, students could ask themselves about the validity of the arguments presented, how it ties in with prior knowledge, and what implications it has for the subject being discussed. Similarly, when reading a text, students should practice active reading by questioning the author's claims, seeking evidence, and considering the implications both within the text and in a broader context. Watching an instructional video can also be made interactive by pausing to reflect on key points and forming questions that require further exploration or clarification.
Active engagement in material, regardless of the format, ensures deeper learning and retention. To avoid the pitfalls of passive reading, students should be aware of when they're just moving their eyes across the page without the material truly 'sinking in'. Instead, by asking questions and being critical of what they are consuming, students build a rich understanding that aids in the recall and application of knowledge.