Challenging Students to Think for Themselves

Introduction to Socratic Seminars

Socrates

“Wisdom begins in wonder.”

Steven Wright

“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.”

Our Work Today

How Socratic Seminars challenge students to think for themselves.

How questioning impacts learning.

Experience with Socratic Seminars.

Foundations of Socratic Seminars

Questioning Practice

Demonstration Seminar

Practice Leading Micro-Seminars

Outcomes Agenda

Socratic Seminars

Transmission of Facts

Socratic Seminars

To enlarge understanding of issues, ideas, and values.

Socratic Seminars Help to Develop:

Reading skills Writing skills Listening skills Speaking skills Test-Taking skills Critical Thinking Initiative Classroom Community Originality Self-Respect

Connections to the Curriculum

Language Arts Science Math Social Studies Fine Arts Health Physical Education Technology Foreign Language Others

Identity (self and group) Property Respect Love and Hate Individual’s Place in

Society Punishment and Justice Fairness

Subject AreasTypically Successful

Middle School Themes

Content

Accessible

Texts

Themes

SD Content Standards – Grades 6-8

1. Students can interpret and respond to diverse, multicultural, and time period texts.

2. Students can access, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate informational texts.

3. Analyze the relationships/interactions among science, technology, environment, and society.

4. Analyze forms and purposes of government in relationship to the needs of citizens and societies including the impact of historical events, ideals, and documents.

5. Use deductive and inductive reasoning to recognize and apply properties of geometric figures.

Questioner: What does he mean by rational?Responder: I think he means logical.Questioner: How is logical different from rational?Responder: One way is by using steps.Questioner: Explain how using steps is rational.Responder: It is reasonable to use steps.Questioner: Can you give examples when to be reasonable uses steps?

“Man is a rational animal who always loses his temper when called upon to act in accordance with the

dictates of reason.”

Prep Work

Seminar

Reflection

The Process of Socratic Seminars

http://jswanson.tie.wikispaces.net/

Access to Today’s Materials

Our Work Today

How Socratic Seminars challenge students to think for themselves.

How questioning impacts learning.

Experience with Socratic Seminars.

Foundations of Socratic Seminars

Questioning Practice

Demonstration Seminar

Practice Leading Micro-Seminars

Outcomes Agenda

Socratic Seminars Help to Develop:

Reading skills Writing skills Listening skills Speaking skills Test-Taking skills Critical Thinking Initiative Classroom Community Originality Self-Respect