Where questions, not answers, are the driving force in thinking. Socratic Seminars Where questions, not answers, are the driving force in thinking.

What does Socratic mean? Socratic comes from the name Socrates,   a classical Greek philosopher who developed a Theory of Knowledge: the surest way to attain reliable knowledge was through the practice of disciplined conversation…dialectic.

Dialectic means… Question and Answer the art or practice of examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the method of Question and Answer so as to determine their validity.

How did Socrates use the dialectic? He would begin with a discussion of the obvious aspects of any problem,  feign ignorance about a subject, and try to draw out from the other person his fullest possible knowledge about it. 

What is a Socratic Seminar? *a method used to understand information by creating dialectic in class regarding a specific text. Participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas in text through rigorous thoughtful dialogue, rather than by memorizing bits of information.

The Text: *richness in ideas, issues, values and their ability to stimulate dialogue. A good text raises important questions. There are no right or wrong answers. At the end of successful Socratic Seminars, participants often leave with more questions than they brought with them.

The Question: question The Socratic Seminar opens with a question posed by the leader. Responses to the opening question generate new questions from the leader and participants, leading to new responses.

The Participants: •preparing • participating •sharing •supporting *carry the burden of responsibility for the quality of the seminar. There are four ways to do this: •preparing • participating •sharing •supporting

SET UP: Desks arranged in a circle. Text given in advance. Rules posted. Allow 45 minutes. Leader is ready with an opening question. Participants respond with textual evidence for support. Participants respond with questions to information   they hear. Students do not raise hands. Reflect and Debrief. Accountability through final written piece.

Expectations of Participants: Did I….. Speak loudly and clearly? Cite reasons and evidence for my statements? Use the text to find support? Listen to others respectfully? Stick with the subject? Talk to others, not just to the leader? Paraphrase accurately? Avoid inappropriate language? Ask questions to clear up confusion? Support others? Avoid hostile exchanges? Question others in a civil manner? Seem prepared?

REMEMBER: • Students need text in advance. • Seminars usually last approximately 45 minutes. • Questions: open-ended, lead to further questions,   open-core-closing, no right or wrong answer • Text Support • Accountability? Create an end product, rubrics, not just on speaking • Discussion not Debate!

Benefits include: 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