SOCRATIC SEMINARS An Inquiry Strategy Socratic Seminar Vision

SOCRATIC SEMINARS An Inquiry Strategy

Socratic Seminar Vision o Socrates believed that enabling students to think for themselves was more important than filling their heads with “right answers”. o Participants seek deeper understanding on complex ideas through rigorously thoughtful dialogue than by memorizing bits of information

What are Socratic Seminars? o Highly motivated form of intellectual and scholarly discourse o Usually range from 30 -50 minutes n An effective Socratic Seminar creates dialogue as opposed to debate

Four Elements o An effective Socratic Seminar consists of four interdependent elements: n The text(s) being considered n The questions raised n The seminar leader, and n The participants

The Text o The seminar text can be drawn from readings in literature, history, science, math, health, philosophy, current events, or from works of art or music o Texts are usually chosen for their richness in ideas, issues, values, and their ability to stimulate extended, thoughtful dialogue.

The Question o An opening questions has no right answer o It leads participants back to the text as they speculate, evaluate, define, and clarify the issues involved n Responses to the opening question generate new questions n The line of inquiry evolves on the spot

The Leader Plays a dual role as leader and participant n Leads thought exploration of the ideas in the text n Actively engages in the group’s exploration of the text o Helps participants clarify their positions when arguments happen o Involves reluctant participants w/their more vocal peers o Must be patient enough to allow participants’ understandings to evolve o Must be willing to help participants explore nontraditional insights and unexpected interpretation o

The Participants o Share responsibility for the quality of the seminar. o Most effective when participants: n Study the text closely n Listen actively n Share ideas and questions in response to others n Search for evidence in the text to support their ideas

Benefits o Time to engage in in-depth discussions, problem solving, and clarification of ideas o Building a strong, collaborative work culture o Enhanced knowledge and research base o Increased success for all students o Teaching respect for diverse ideas, people, and practices o Creating a positive learning environment for all students

Conducting a 3 -4 Person Team o Strategy to use when you have a LARGE class (over 25 students) o Divide the class into “Inner” and “Outer” circles n Inner Circle – active participants/speakers n Outer Circle- students observe 2 -3 active participants for: o New ideas, more questions (what about ? ), and hand notes to their speaker using the text to further the conversation

Tips for the Seminar o. Before n. Read the seminar: the text CAREFULLY (provocative questions, short passages, identify tough vocabulary) n. Highlight key facts and details that support key ideas/concepts raised in the text n. Choose some questions in advance (broad, open-ended, to engage conversation

Tips for Teachers o During the seminar: n Begin with an opening question that has NO right answer o “what is meant by…” o “what is your own interpretation of the reading? ’ n Listen HARD, follow each answer with another question if necessary n Keep students focused (clarification, paraphrase, insist on standards of rigor, etc. ) n Allow for pauses n Take notes

Tips for Teachers o. After the seminar: n. Conduct a debriefing o Have students write a reflection o Debrief the topic o Debrief the process n. Assess students o Assign a grade for performance o Many prefer to assign a culminating written assignment or essay

Happy Reading!