How do Socratic seminars work?

A Socratic Seminar is a method to try to understand information by creating a dialectic class in regards to a specific text. In a Socratic Seminar, participants seek deeper understanding complex ideas in the text through rigorously thoughtful dialogue. This process encourages divergent thinking rather than convergent.

What are the 3 rules of a Socratic Seminar?

Socratic Seminar Rules Discuss, do not debate. Be courteous, NO PUTDOWNS. Goal is the pursuit of deeper understanding. Respect different thoughts and ideas.

How do you prepare for a Socratic Seminar?

5 Steps to a Successful Socratic Seminar

Step 1: Choose a Text. The purpose of Socratic seminars is to use evidence to support interpretations of a text.
Step 2: Let Students Prepare.
Step 3: Give Students Questions.
Step 4: Set Up Inner and Outer Circles.
Step 5: Don’t Jump In.

Why are Socratic seminars bad?

Instead, Socratic Seminars often foster an uncomfortable mood, as students may actively defend and debate their point of view without considering the suggestions of others, cutting off effective communication.

What are the four elements of a Socratic Seminar?

A good seminar consists of four interdependent elements: (1) the text, (2) the questions, (3) the seminar leader, and (4) the participants. A closer look at each of these elements helps explain the unique character of a Socratic Seminar.

What are good Socratic Seminar topics?

top ten socratic seminar topics for 2019

Is Pluto a planet?
Are audio and video recordings better than reading books?
Which is the proper installation for a roll of toilet paper?
Does separating boys and girls help students perform better in school?

What happens during a Socratic Seminar?

In a Socratic Seminar activity, students help one another understand the ideas, issues, and values reflected in a text through a group discussion format. Through this type of discussion, students practice how to listen to one another, make meaning, and find common ground while participating in a conversation.

Why is it called a Socratic Seminar?

Socratic seminars are named for their embodiment of Socrates’ belief in the power of asking questions, prize inquiry over information and discussion over debate.

What is a fishbowl Socratic Seminar?

If you’ve never conducted a fishbowl discussion in your classroom, you and your students are missing out. Similar to a Socratic Seminar, fishbowl discussions are organized classroom discussions that require students to prepare thoughtful responses to deliver in class.

What are the benefits of Socratic seminars?

Benefits of a Socratic Seminar

Actively listen and respond to their peers.
Learn to be respectful of the ideas, values, and perspectives of others.
Maintain ownership of the learning.
Learn responsibility and accountability as they prepare for each seminar.

What is the Socratic technique?

The Socratic approach to questioning is based on the practice of disciplined, thoughtful dialogue. In this technique, the teacher professes ignorance of the topic in order to engage in dialogue with the students. With this “acting dumb,” the student develops the fullest possible knowledge about the topic.

What are the six types of Socratic questions?

Here are the six types of questions Socrates posed:

Clarifying concepts.
Probing assumptions.
Probing rationale, reasons and evidence.
Questioning viewpoints and perspectives.
Probing implications and consequences.
Questioning the question.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Socratic?

Advantages of the Socratic method include: Gaining active learning and listening skills; Promotion of critical thinking skills; Learning how to be challenged and what to do when challenged; Discovering how to examine issues in-depth; Disadvantages of the Socratic method include: Easy failure rate without student participation; A fear of public speaking is common

What was the Socratic method based on?

The Socratic Method. The Socratic method of leadership is based on the questioning techniques used by Socrates 2500 years ago to instruct by questioning, making his students examine their knowledge base and beliefs.

What is the “Socratic method”?

Related articles. The Socratic method, also known as method of Elenchus, elenctic method, or Socratic debate, is a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.

What is the Socratic discussion?

SOCRATIC DISCUSSION PROCEDURES: The Socratic Discussion is patterned after the way Socrates conducted learning activities in Ancient Greece. All of his students were expected to share their thoughts and opinions regarding the written and spoken word.