Table of Contents
- 1 What is an example of Socratic Seminar?
- 2 What are the 3 rules of a Socratic Seminar?
- 3 What are examples of Socratic questions?
- 4 What are the four elements of a Socratic Seminar?
- 5 Why are Socratic seminars bad?
- 6 What are the 6 Socratic questions?
- 7 How to prepare for a Socratic seminar discussion?
- 8 How does Socratic seminar help students with disabilities?
- 9 Can a Socratic seminar be used in a distance learning class?
What is an example of Socratic Seminar?
An example of texts often used as the basis of Socratic Seminar activities include the preamble to the US Constitution, Dr. Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, or the reading No Time to Think from our resource Holocaust and Human Behavior.
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.
What are Socratic Seminar questions?
The Socratic seminar is a formal discussion, based on a text, in which the leader asks open-ended questions. Within the context of the discussion, students listen closely to the comments of others, thinking critically for themselves, and articulate their own thoughts and their responses to the thoughts of others.
What are examples of Socratic questions?
15 Examples of Socratic Questioning
| Question type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Clarification | What do you mean when you say X? Could you explain that point further? Can you provide an example? |
| Challenging assumptions | Is there a different point of view? What assumptions are we making here? Are you saying that…? |
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 questions?
Socratic questioning is at the heart of critical thinking and a number of homework problems draw from R.W….6. Questions about the question:
- What was the point of this question?
- Why do you think I asked this question?
- What does… mean?
- How does…apply to everyday life?
- “Why do you think diffusion is important?”
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 6 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 is a fishbowl Socratic Seminar?
Similar to a Socratic Seminar, fishbowl discussions are organized classroom discussions that require students to prepare thoughtful responses to deliver in class.
How to prepare for a Socratic seminar discussion?
Students can also prepare questions to be discussed during the discussion. Padlet is a great tool for teachers to post questions that will be used during the Socratic Seminar Discussion. Padlet also allows students to post additional questions that they would want to include in the Socratic Seminar Discussion.
How does Socratic seminar help students with disabilities?
Socratic seminars support students with disabilities by providing a safe, structured opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, practice speaking and listening, and build confidence in a whole-class setting. To support students with learning disabilities that impact their verbal communication, teachers can:
How long does a Socratic seminar usually last?
At least 15 minutes should be allotted to the activity, and it can often last 30 minutes or more. As students become more familiar with the Socratic Seminar format, they will be able to discuss a text for longer periods of time without teacher intervention.
Can a Socratic seminar be used in a distance learning class?
Socratic Seminars can be a productive way to engage in a whole-class discussion during distance learning. The structure of the seminar can be incorporated into synchronous distance learning sessions. Have students read and annotate the text that they will be using to engage in the Socratic Seminar Discussion.