Deliberate Questioning: Deliberate Questioning: Using Socratic Seminars Using Socratic Seminars

to Develop Critical to Develop Critical ThinkersThinkers

Susan Baum, Ph.D.Susan Baum, Ph.D.

International Center for International Center for Talent DevelopmentTalent Development

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What is a Socratic What is a Socratic Seminar?Seminar?

A Socratic seminar is a way A Socratic seminar is a way of teaching founded by of teaching founded by the Greek philosopher the Greek philosopher Socrates. Socrates.

Socrates believed that:Socrates believed that:

students learn best by students learn best by asking questions. asking questions.

It is the teacher’s job to It is the teacher’s job to moderate the discussion moderate the discussion instead of leading the instead of leading the discussion.discussion.

Why do we have Socratic Why do we have Socratic SeminarsSeminars

• Socratic Seminars Socratic Seminars help us engage a help us engage a text in class. text in class.

• The thought The thought process is when we process is when we work together to work together to understand a text understand a text it will help it will help everyone’s everyone’s understanding.understanding.

How do we prepare for a How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar?Socratic Seminar?

• The day prior to the The day prior to the seminar you will be seminar you will be given a Socratic given a Socratic Seminar prep sheet. Seminar prep sheet. Your job is to Your job is to complete steps 1 – 4 complete steps 1 – 4 for homework. for homework.

• It is essential you It is essential you read the text and read the text and prepare yourself prepare yourself with important with important questions and questions and quotations.quotations.

Socratic Seminar Entry Socratic Seminar Entry CardCard

Things that were Things that were interesting or interesting or confusing:confusing:

My Question(s)My Question(s)

1.1.

2.2.

KINDS OF QUESTIONS KINDS OF QUESTIONS TO CONSIDERTO CONSIDER

WORLD CONNECTION WORLD CONNECTION QUESTION:QUESTION:

• Write a question connecting Write a question connecting the article or Ted Talk to to the article or Ted Talk to to the real world. the real world. 

              

In my Ted Talk, In my Ted Talk, Origami was Origami was seen as a tool to seen as a tool to real world real world issues. How can issues. How can one apply their one apply their own talents to a own talents to a wider audience.wider audience.

CLOSE-CLOSE-ENDED ENDED QUESTIOQUESTIONN

Write  a question about the text Write  a question about the text that will help everyone in thethat will help everyone in theclass come to an agreement class come to an agreement about events or characters in about events or characters in the text. This question usually the text. This question usually hashas

one right answer. What aspect one right answer. What aspect of creativity was show in the of creativity was show in the article you read>article you read>

Example:  What happened to Example:  What happened to Hester Pyrnne's husband that Hester Pyrnne's husband that she wasshe wasleft alone in Boston without left alone in Boston without family?  (after the first 4 family?  (after the first 4 chapters of The Scarlet Letter”chapters of The Scarlet Letter”

OPEN-ENDED OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONQUESTION

Write an insightful Write an insightful question about the text question about the text that will require proof that will require proof and group discussion and group discussion and "construction of and "construction of logic" to discover or logic" to discover or explore the answer to explore the answer to the question.the question.

Are theire personality Are theire personality characteristics that characteristics that define the creative define the creative personality? Is this personality? Is this useful way to examine useful way to examine creativity?creativity?

                  

UNIVERSAUNIVERSAL THEME/ L THEME/ CORE CORE QUESTIOQUESTION:N:

Are school’s killing Are school’s killing creativity?creativity?

                   

                    

Write a question Write a question dealing with a dealing with a theme(s) of the text theme(s) of the text that willthat willencourage group encourage group discussion about discussion about the universality of the universality of the text. the text.

What will the seminar What will the seminar look like?look like?

The classroom will be The classroom will be arranged in a two arranged in a two concentric circles.concentric circles.

• Inner circle holds Inner circle holds the discussion.the discussion.

• Outer circle Outer circle observes and observes and records. records.

• Can switch half way Can switch half way through.through.

Topics for observationTopics for observation

• TALLYING PARTNERS RESPONSES TALLYING PARTNERS RESPONSES AND KINDS OF QUESTIONSAND KINDS OF QUESTIONS

• NOTICING WHO IS RESPONDINGNOTICING WHO IS RESPONDING• COMMENTS FOUND INTERESTINGCOMMENTS FOUND INTERESTING• GOOD LISTENINGGOOD LISTENING

How does the discussion How does the discussion work in a seminar?work in a seminar?

• The seminar is to The seminar is to serve as a serve as a discussion, not a discussion, not a lecture. Just like in lecture. Just like in a casual a casual conversation, no conversation, no one begins the one begins the conversation, a conversation, a conversation conversation begins naturally. begins naturally.

Seminar GuidelinesSeminar Guidelines

• Please listen and look at Please listen and look at each other when you speak.each other when you speak.

• One person speaks at a One person speaks at a time.time.

• Each person will have a Each person will have a chance to ask a question.chance to ask a question.

• Respond to the person who Respond to the person who asks the question.asks the question.

• Use evidence from the text Use evidence from the text to support yourself.to support yourself.

• Always treat each other with Always treat each other with mutual respect. mutual respect.

Stem Questions that Stem Questions that Facilitate & Sustain Facilitate & Sustain

DialogueDialogue• These stem questions are not only for the These stem questions are not only for the

leader of the seminar but for participant use leader of the seminar but for participant use as well.  It is a great idea to post the list in as well.  It is a great idea to post the list in your classroom as a reference tool for your classroom as a reference tool for students.  At first, when students use them, students.  At first, when students use them, they may seem a bit artificial; however, the they may seem a bit artificial; however, the more you make them a regular practice in more you make them a regular practice in your classroom, the more comfortable and your classroom, the more comfortable and automatic they will become for both you and automatic they will become for both you and your students. (SEE HANDOUT PP 4-5)your students. (SEE HANDOUT PP 4-5)

How will I be assessed on How will I be assessed on the seminar?the seminar?

• By completing the seminar prep sheet. (30 By completing the seminar prep sheet. (30 pts). pts).

• By contributing to the conversation following By contributing to the conversation following these guidelines:these guidelines:- Ask- Ask a question. a question.

– RespondRespond to a question. to a question.– Cite evidenceCite evidence from the text. from the text.

• All All threethree requirements requirements: : 30 points.30 points.• TwoTwo requirements requirements: : 20 points.20 points.• 11 requirement requirement:: 10 points.10 points.• NoNo requirements requirements:: 0 points.0 points.

What do we need to do after What do we need to do after the seminar?the seminar?

• The last 5 - 10 The last 5 - 10 minutes of class on minutes of class on the day of a seminar:the day of a seminar:

• JOURNAL ENTRY JOURNAL ENTRY • ABOUT WHAT YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU

LIKED ABOUT THE LIKED ABOUT THE SEMINAR AND SEMINAR AND WHAT YOU WHAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF.YOURSELF.