what does socratic mean? socratic comes from the name socrates socrates classical greek philosopher...
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What does What does SocraticSocratic mean? mean?
Socratic comes from the name Socratic comes from the name
SocratesSocrates
Classical Greek philosopher who Classical Greek philosopher who developed a Theory of Knowledge. developed a Theory of Knowledge.
The VisionThe VisionSocrates believed that enabling
students to
think for themselves
was more important than filling their heads with “right
answers.”
The VisionThe VisionParticipants seek a
deeper understanding of complex ideas through
thoughtful dialogue,
rather than by memorizing information.
What is a Socratic What is a Socratic Seminar?Seminar?
A Highly motivating form of intellectual and scholarly discourse
Is collaborative One listens to find common ground
Enlarges points of view
Reveals assumptions for re-evaluation
Creates an open-minded attitude
Is oppositional One listens to counter arguments.
Affirms participant's points of view.
Defends assumptions as truth
Creates a close-minded attitude
DebateDebate DialogueDialogue
Expects other’s reflections will improve their own thinking
Temporarily suspending one's beliefs
Searches for strengths Respects others and
seeks not to alienate Assumes that
cooperation can lead to greater understanding
Remains open-ended
Defends thinking to show that it is right.
Calls for investing in one's beliefs.
One searches for weaknesses
Rebuts contrary positions and may belittle others
Debate assumes a single right answer
Demands a conclusion
Debate Debate DialogueDialogue
What was Socrates' Theory What was Socrates' Theory of Knowledge? of Knowledge?
Socrates was convinced that the way Socrates was convinced that the way to attain reliable knowledge was to attain reliable knowledge was
through disciplined through disciplined
conversationconversation
He called this method He called this method dialecticdialectic. .
What does dialectic What does dialectic mean? mean?
di-a-di-a-leclec-tic (noun) --- the art or practice -tic (noun) --- the art or practice of of
examining opinions or ideas logically, examining opinions or ideas logically,
often by the method of often by the method of
QuestionQuestion and and AnswerAnswer
so as to determine their validity. so as to determine their validity.
What is discussed? What is discussed?
A Socratic Seminar is a method used to A Socratic Seminar is a method used to understand information regarding aunderstand information regarding a
specific textspecific text
Participants seek deeper understanding Participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas in text through of complex ideas in text through
thoughtful dialogue, rather than by thoughtful dialogue, rather than by memorizing bits of information. memorizing bits of information.
The Text: The Text: You must use the text to help support your You must use the text to help support your
claims and to raise: claims and to raise:
questionsquestions
There are no right or wrong answers. There are no right or wrong answers. At the end of successful Socratic Seminars, At the end of successful Socratic Seminars,
participants often leave with more participants often leave with more questions than they brought with them.questions than they brought with them.
The Question: The Question:
A Socratic Seminar opens with a A Socratic Seminar opens with a
QuestionQuestionposed by the leader or from a posed by the leader or from a
participant.participant.
Responses to the opening question Responses to the opening question generate new ideas and, leading to generate new ideas and, leading to
new responses. new responses.
The Leader: The Leader:
In a Socratic Seminar, the leader plays a dual In a Socratic Seminar, the leader plays a dual role as role as
Leader Leader and and ParticipantParticipant & keeps the discussion focused on the text by& keeps the discussion focused on the text by
asking follow-up questionsasking follow-up questions helping clarify positions when arguments helping clarify positions when arguments
become confusedbecome confused involving reluctant participantsinvolving reluctant participants
The Leader:The Leader:
As a seminar participant, the leader As a seminar participant, the leader actively engages in the group's actively engages in the group's
exploration of theexploration of the
texttextTo do this effectively, the leader must To do this effectively, the leader must know the text well enough to anticipate know the text well enough to anticipate
varied interpretations and recognize varied interpretations and recognize important possibilitiesimportant possibilities
The ParticipantsThe Participants
In a Socratic Seminar, participants are In a Socratic Seminar, participants are responsibile for the responsibile for the quality of the seminar. of the seminar.
There are three ways to do this:There are three ways to do this:
Studying Studying
ParticipatingParticipating
SharingSharing
Starting DialogueStarting Dialogue Students must risk making
mistakes in order to learn how to learn to think critically, and work collaboratively.
9 Guidelines for Participants in 9 Guidelines for Participants in a Socratic Seminara Socratic Seminar
1.1. Refer to the Refer to the text text during the discussion. during the discussion.
2.2. Do not stay confused; ask for Do not stay confused; ask for clarification.clarification.
3.3. Stick to the Stick to the pointpoint..
4.4. Don't raise Don't raise handshands; take turns speaking. ; take turns speaking.
5.5. ListenListen carefully and carefully and Speak upSpeak up so that all so that all can hear you. can hear you.
6.6. Talk to Talk to each othereach other, not just to the leader. , not just to the leader.
7.7. Discuss Discuss ideasideas rather than each other's rather than each other's opinions. opinions.
8.8. NO DEBATES! DISCUSSION ONLYNO DEBATES! DISCUSSION ONLY
Sample questions that Sample questions that demonstrate constructive demonstrate constructive participation in Socratic participation in Socratic
Seminars.Seminars. Here is my view and how I arrived at it. Here is my view and how I arrived at it. How does it sound to you? How does it sound to you?
Do you see gaps in my reasoning? Do you see gaps in my reasoning? Do you have different data? Do you have different data? Do you have different conclusions? Do you have different conclusions? How did you arrive at your view? How did you arrive at your view? Are you taking into account something Are you taking into account something
different from what I have considered?different from what I have considered?
Expectations of ParticipantsExpectations of ParticipantsDid I…..Did I….. Come prepared?Come prepared? Speak loudly and clearly? Speak loudly and clearly? Cite reasons and evidence for my statements? Cite reasons and evidence for my statements? Use the text to find support? Use the text to find support? Listen to others respectfully? Listen to others respectfully? Stick with the subject? Stick with the subject? Talk to others, not just to the leader? Talk to others, not just to the leader? Paraphrase accurately?Paraphrase accurately? Avoid inappropriate language?Avoid inappropriate language? Ask questions to clear up confusion? Ask questions to clear up confusion? Support others? Support others? Avoid hostile exchanges? Avoid hostile exchanges? Question others in a civil manner? Question others in a civil manner?