Socratic Seminar

What does Socratic mean?

Socratic comes from the name

Socrates  

Classical Greek philosopher who developed a Theory of Knowledge.

What was Socrates' Theory of Knowledge?

Socrates was convinced that the best way attain

knowledge was through

conversationHe called this method

dialectic.

What does dialectic mean?

di-a-lec-tic (noun) means the art or practice of

examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the method of

Question and Answer so as to determine their validity.

Dialogue Vs. Debate

Dialogue and Debate—the Difference?

• Dialogue– Submit best

thinking to improve

– Temporary suspension of beliefs

– Remains open ended

– Respects participants and doesn’t seek to offend

• Debate– Submit best

thinking to DEFEND

– Believe wholeheartedly in the correctness of beliefs

– Demands a winner

– Demands contrary positions and may belittle

What is a Socratic Seminar?

A Socratic Seminar is a method used to understand information by creating

dialectic in class regarding a

specific text, visual or experience

Participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas through rigorous thoughtful dialogue, rather than by

memorizing bits of information.

The Facilitator: In a Socratic Seminar, the facilitator

plays a dual role as the

Leader and Moderator Keeps the discussion focused and on topic

by

• Asking follow-up questions• Helping to clarify positions when thoughts

become confused• Involving reluctant participants

The Participants In a Socratic Seminar, participants carry the burden

of responsibility for the quality of the seminar. There are three ways to do this:

Preparing Participating

Listening

The Participants Should remember that the goal is to:

Seek first to

understand and then to be

understood

What to do during the seminar

Speak loudly and clearly Don’t raise your hand, have a dialogue Give reasons and evidence for your

statements Listen to others respectfully Stick to the subject Talk to each other, not just to the

facilitator Ask for help to clear up confusion Support each other Avoid hostile exchanges Question others in a civil manner Be prepared

“There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance. “

– Socrates

• Socrates was a Greek philosopher who lived between 470-399 B.C. He turned Greek attention toward questions of ethics and virtue. Although Socrates was not a scientist, his way of questioning to find out answers laid a foundation for the way that science works today.

• Socrates spent much time in the Athens marketplace (the Agora) where he held conversations with townspeople. He was known for exposing ignorance and conceit. Despite having many followers, Socrates was disliked by people in Athens, Greece.

• At the age of 70, he was convicted of atheism, treason and corruption of the young. He was sentenced to death by a jury. He had the opportunity to escape from prison, but he chose not to. He valued the law so much, that he chose to fulfill his sentence of death by drinking hemlock instead of escaping and living in banishment for the rest of his life.

•What if I haven’t had Socratic Seminar training?

•What if no one talks?

•What if they just end up arguing?

•How do I arrange the room?

•How much prep time does this take?

•How do I teach them how to do this?

•Do I have to assign a grade?

WHAT WORRIED ME…

Why Socratic Seminars?

•What a Socratic Seminar is.

•How to introduce your students to the

process.

•How to participate in a Socratic

Seminar.

•How create your own questions to a

reading.

TODAY YOU WILL LEARN…