SOCRATIC SEMINARS - Granite Oaks Middle School
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Transcript SOCRATIC SEMINARS - Granite Oaks Middle School
SOCRATIC SEMINARS
An Inquiry Strategy
Socratic Seminar Vision
Socrates
believed that enabling students to
think for themselves was more important than
filling their heads with “right answers”.
Participants seek deeper understanding on
complex ideas through rigorously thoughtful
dialogue than by memorizing bits of
information
What are Socratic Seminars?
Highly
motivated form of intellectual and
scholarly discourse
Usually range from 30-50 minutes
An
effective Socratic Seminar creates dialogue as
opposed to debate
Four Elements
An
effective Socratic Seminar consists of four
interdependent elements:
The
text(s) being considered
The questions raised
The seminar leader, and
The participants
The Text
The
seminar text can be drawn from readings
in literature, history, science, math, health,
philosophy, current events, or from works of
art or music
Texts are usually chosen for their richness in
ideas, issues, values, and their ability to
stimulate extended, thoughtful dialogue.
The Question
An
opening questions has no right answer
It leads participants back to the text as they
speculate, evaluate, define, and clarify the
issues involved
Responses
to the opening question generate new
questions
The line of inquiry evolves on the spot
The Leader
Plays a dual role as leader and participant
Leads thought exploration of the ideas in the text
Actively engages in the group in the group’s
exploration of the text
Helps participants clarify their positions when
arguments happen
Involves reluctant participants w/their more vocal peers
Must be patient enough to allow participants’
understandings to evolve
Must be willing to help participants explore
nontraditional insights and unexpected interpretation
The Participants
Share
responsibility for the quality of the
seminar.
Most effective when participants:
Study
the text closely
Listen actively
Share ideas and questions in response to others
Search for evidence in the text to support their
ideas
Benefits
Time
to engage in in-depth discussions,
problem solving, and clarification of ideas
Building a strong, collaborative work culture
Enhanced knowledge and research base
Increased success for all students
Teaching respect for diverse ideas, people, and
practices
Creating a positive learning environment for
all students
Conducting a 3-4 Person Team
Strategy
to use when you have a LARGE class
(over 25 students)
Divide the class into “Inner” and “Outer”
circles
Circle – active participants/speakers
Outer Circle- students observe 2-3 active
participants for:
Inner
New
ideas, more questions (what about ?), and hand notes
to their speaker using the text to further the conversation
Tips for the Seminar
Before
Read
the seminar:
the text CAREFULLY (provocative
questions, short passages, identify tough
vocabulary)
Highlight key facts and details that support
key ideas/concepts raised in the text
Choose some questions in advance (broad,
open-ended, to engage conversation
Tips for Teachers
During
the seminar:
Begin
with an opening question that has NO right
answer
is meant by…”
“what is your own interpretation of the reading?’
“what
Listen
HARD, follow each answer with another
question if necessary
Keep students focused (clarification, paraphrase,
insist on standards of rigor, etc.)
Allow for pauses
Take notes
Tips for Teachers
After
the seminar:
Conduct
a debriefing
Have
students write a reflection
Debrief the topic
Debrief the process
Assess
students
Assign
a grade for performance
Many prefer to assign a culminating written
assignment or essay
Happy Reading!