home


 * What is a Socratic Seminar? **

The Socratic method of teaching is based on Socrates' theory that it is more important to enable students to think for themselves than to merely fill their heads with "right" answers. Therefore, he regularly engaged his pupils in dialogues by responding to their questions with questions, instead of answers. This process encourages divergent thinking rather than convergent. Students are given opportunities to examine a common piece of text. Then, open-ended questions are posed. Open-ended questions allow students to think critically, analyze multiple meanings in text (especially for Literature), and express ideas with clarity and confidence. A certain degree of emotional safety is felt by participants when they understand that this format is based on dialogue and not discussion/debate. Get students to sit in 2 concentric circles: participants in the inner circle, the rest in the outer circle.
 * Background **
 * **Dialogue** || **Debate** ||
 * Collaborative: we work together to develop better understanding || Oppositional: each side tries to prove the other wrong ||
 * Listen in order to understand, to make meaning together || Listen in order to find flaws ||
 * Examine your own assumptions and sometimes change your mind || Defend your position at all costs ||
 * Remain open minded – be prepared to see that you were wrong || Remain determined to be right – and to convince others that you are ||
 * Search everyone’s ideas for strength || Fight others’ ideas, defend your own ||
 * Respect other participants, do not offend || Rebut others, at times belittling them ||
 * Assume that everyone has part of the answer and that cooperation can lead to greater cooperation for all || Assume that one side holds the correct answer and refuses to consider alternatives ||
 * Remains open ended || Demands a conclusion and a winner ||
 * Set Up**

Remind students
 * reference should be made to the text and their own knowledge and experience
 * refer to the helping cue cards (print for them if you wish) for ideas on contributing in a variety of ways (clarifier, evidence/reasons, polite dissent, question assumptions, connector, synthesizer, validator, answer)
 * the outer circle will get a chance at the end of 25 mins (contribs will be noted for class participation)

Read out the generic interpretive and evaluative questions in the Socratic Seminar instruction sheet. Then inform them that anyone can kick off the discussion
 * What is the writer’s purpose in writing the text? What are the main issues?
 * Do you agree with the writer?

__Interventions during seminar (only if needed)__
 * To ask them to look at their cue cards for possible types of contributions
 * To ask them to comment in the light of current issues
 * Get quiet ones to speak

Swop after 20-25 mins to give the outer circle a little time to speak. Jot down who spoke.

__Summary__ At the end of the discussion (20 min before the end): debrief:-

__Evaluation and Reflection on the metacognitive process (Important for Assessment for Learning):__


 * Is the Socratic Seminar worth doing (as compared to a class discussion)?**
 * Did they work together to develop a __better__ understanding of the issues? Did they listen to one another? Is the dialogue of value?
 * Did you build on one another’s knowledge and clarify your own idea of answering this question?
 * Were you open minded? Did you ask for substantiation? Question assumptions? Validate others’ views? Synthesize? Dissent politely? Clarify? Connect to wider experiences? Refer to text?
 * Which area are you lacking and would like to work on in the next discussion?


 * Acknowledgement of those who facilitated well:**
 * Who encouraged others to speak up?
 * Who included everyone in the discussion when she speaks? (an impt skill, using eye contact and body language, not just volume)
 * Who helped move the dialogue forward?
 * Who took resp for the entire group discussion


 * Qns for the Outer Circle: any problems/ recommendations?** Did anyone dominate the discussion? Did anyone not speak up?