Definition
A questioning technique used by an instructor in which a question is directed to the entire group rather than to a specific student, inviting any learner to respond. It is used to stimulate thought and encourage participation across the whole class.
Plain English
A question the instructor throws out to everyone at once, instead of pointing to one person. Anyone in the group can answer.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation instructor training, especially when discussing how to ask questions during ground lessons, briefings, or classroom instruction.
Derivation
Called 'overhead' because the question is figuratively tossed up over the heads of the whole group, rather than aimed at one individual.
Why Pilots Care
Flight and ground instructors use overhead questions to keep a class engaged and to gauge overall understanding before moving on. Knowing the term helps a new instructor follow lesson-plan guidance and apply the right questioning style at the right moment.
Intuition Check
Do not read overhead question as a question about something above the airplane. In this FAA instructor context, it means a question addressed to the whole group.
Example Sentence 1
After explaining the four forces of flight, the instructor used an overhead question to check if anyone could name them.
Example Sentence 2
She used an overhead question during the weather briefing to see whether everyone understood the cloud clearance rules.