Socratic Seminar Overview Levels of Questioning

What is a Socratic Seminar A teaching strategy to encourage students to engage in critical thinking, listening, and communicating, A forum in which students determine the flow of classroom discussion and teachers serve as facilitators An atmosphere of intellectual engagement, cooperation,and conversation The goal is not to answer questions, but to generate to answer questions

Dialogue vs. Debate DialogueDebate

During the Seminar 1. The group sits in a circle, allowing all participants to make eye contact. 2. Only students who have prepared for the seminar should participate in the discussion. 3. Silence is not a negative. 4. Allow discussion to flow on its own. 5. Mutual respect is a key to successful seminars. 6. One student speaks at a time. 7. Allow for post seminar reflection time

The Teacher’s Role Facilitator, not director The teacher gives no response, negative or positive, to the students’ discussion The teacher can pose more questions to “move” discussion from stalemate positions

The Student’s Role Being prepared for the seminar Directing the flow of the discussion within the seminar Utilizing critical thinking, listening, and communicating skills Respecting and honoring the opinions and voices of all other participants

Costa’s 3 Levels of Inquiry

Not all questions are equal….

Costa’s Examples of Questions Explain how involvement in war impacts the economy. What will California’s population be like in 2050 if we continue to grow as we have the past 10 years? What is the definition of a trapezoid? Level 2 Level 1 Level 3

Costa’s Levels of Questioning Activity Read the various children’s books in groups of three. In groups, create a level one, a level two, and a level three question based on the reading. Report your questions to the group.

Socratic Seminar Guidelines Listen  No one can speak while someone else is speaking. Build  Speakers must try to build on what others say, not debate their views. Refer to the Text  Speakers must refer directly to the section of the text from which their ideas come rather than making general comments or observations.

Before the Seminar Read the text carefully and for understanding. Use highlighters to mark crucial text and make notes in margins. Think about what you have read and how you understand it. Make connections between the ideas in the text and what you know in your life and the lives of the others.