Socratic Seminar

Socratic Seminar

What is it and how to conduct the method?

What is Socratic Seminar?

• SOCRATES (/ˈsɒk.rə.tiːz/) > an ancient Greek philosopher

• SOCRATIC (/sɒkˈræt.ɪk/ or /səˈkræt̬.ɪk/) > a teaching method by having a dialogue.

• SEMINAR (/ˈsem.ɪ.nɑːr/) >

  an occasion when a group of people meet to study and discuss about some topics.

  
  

Socratic Seminar > Practicing your Critical thinking Skills

• Explore & evaluate ideas, issues, and values in a particular text or work literature

• To achieve a deeper understanding about the ideas and values in the text.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the Socratic Seminar?

• The Socratic Seminar is a formal discussion when a group of people meet to discuss something based on the text.

• The purpose of doing the Socratic Seminar is to obtain a deeper understanding about ideas and values in the text.

• Doing the Socratic Seminar can help us learn how to defend our arguments based on facts and literacies.

• In the Socratic Seminar, the participants are given the time to read the text before sharing their ideas.

Participants' Roles

Participants must be responsible to maintain the quality of the discussion.

1. Study the given texts closely

2. Share your thoughts about the texts.

3. Use the text to search for evidence

4. Listen actively

The Roles of Each Group

• The 'INNER' > Study the text closely in about 7-10 mins (along with the templates) and start the Socratic seminar.

• The 'OUTER' > listens to the discussion and takes notes, focusing on any points they would like to ask/comment.

Multiple Choice

In the Socratic Seminar, there are terms called 'Inner Circle Participants' and 'Outer Circle Participants'. Which of the following is TRUE about their roles?

• Inner circle participants are those who discuss and also take notes on the points of the discussion.

• Outer circle participants are in charge of reading the text and having the formal discussion.

• Inner circle participants listen to the others actively and evaluate the others' performance.

• Outer circle participants listen carefully, take notes and evaluate other participants who are discussing.

The RULES!

• DO NOT RAISE YOUR HANDS!

• ONE PERSON SPEAKS AT A TIME 

• ADDRESS EACH OTHER

The RULES!

• REFER TO THE TEXT WHEN GIVING COMMENTS

• LISTEN TO & RESPECT EACH OTHER’S OPINION

• MONITOR ‘AIR TIME’!

• DON’T INTERRUPT!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the rules of the Socratic Seminar

• Everyone in the Socratic Seminar must listen to and respect others' opinions.

• The participants should not refer to the text when conveying their opinions.

• The participants are not allowed to interrupt others' participants opinions.

• In the Socratic Seminar, the participants don't need to raise their hands if they want to speak.

Multiple Choice

These are the things that we should pay attention to when having the Socratic Seminar, EXCEPT...

• We should refocus when the conversation gets off track or is out of the topic.

• We should strongly defend our arguments when providing our opinions.

• We should always try to develop our ideas and use the useful phrases when speaking.

• We should give the opportunity to those who haven't spoken yet in the discussion.

Multiple Choice

It is known that in this pandemic, the Socratic Seminar can't be implemented offline. However, it still can be conducted online. Therefore, which of the following is TRUE about the selected participants participating in the Online Socratic Seminar?

• The selected participants are not obligated to open their cameras.

• The selected participants are demanded to unmute their microphones when speaking.

• The selected participants solely evaluate other participants in the discussion.

• The selected participants merely listen and take notes on the points of the discussion.