Enhancing Socratic Seminars through Collaborative Dialogue
Socratic Seminars promote deep exploration of texts through collaborative dialogue, fostering curiosity, inquiry, problem-solving, and cognitive flexibility. The goal is not to provide correct interpretations but to construct knowledge collectively. Dialogue, not debate, is emphasized, encouraging open-mindedness, understanding, and respect for diverse perspectives. Various seminar configurations, such as all-class circle, fishbowl, and student facilitator-led setups, enhance engagement and learning outcomes.
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UP-LEVELING THE SOCRATIC SEMINAR Let us examine this question together, my friend, and if you can contradict anything that I say, do so, and I shall be persuaded. - Crito, Plato
WHY SOCRATIC SEMINAR? The goal of Socratic Seminar is to support one another in deep exploration of TEXT through collaborative dialogue with your peers. Socratic Seminar encourages you to develop the following: Exploration Curiosity Inquiry Dialogue Problem-solving Cognitive flexibility
RATIONALE The goal of the Socratic seminar is not to arrive a correct interpretation of a text via the seminar teacher s skillful questioning. Instead, it is the assumption of this method that knowledge and understanding are constructed by learners themselves, rather than discovered or received. In other words, understanding is emergent, uncertain, and subject to revision; it is connected to what learners already know; and it is a new creation by cooperative action, rather than a product solely of the author s or teacher s effort. -- Peter Winchell, Socratic Seminars West
DISCUSSIONAND DIALOGUE Discussion in the dictionary is a close examination of a subject with interchange of opinions, sometimes using argument, in an effort to reach an agreement. Dialogue, on the other hand, is an interchange of ideas especially when open and frank and seeking mutual understanding. It is a collective inquiry in which we suspend opinions, share openly, and think creatively about difficult issues.
SOCRATIC SEMINAR DEMANDS DIALOGUE NOT DEBATE Dialogue Debate Oppositional Goal is proving others wrong Listening for flaws Defending assumptions Close-minded Defending beliefs Searches for weakness Belittles or deprecates others There is one right answer Demands closure Collaborative Goals is understanding Listening for deeper meaning Re-evaluating assumptions Open-minded Temporarily suspending beliefs Search for strengths in all ideas Respects all participants People have pieces to answers Open-ended
A NEW TYPEOF SOCRATIC SEMINAR CONFIGURATION: You have likely already participated in these: All-class Circle Introductory Configuration Teacher monitors student interactions (with text, peers, and facilitator) Fishbowl (Inner-Outer Circle) Intermediate Configuration Partners monitor student interactions (with text, peers, and facilitator) Simultaneous Advanced Configuration Student Facilitators monitor student interactions (with text, peers, and facilitator)
A NEW TYPEOF SOCRATIC SEMINAR CONFIGURATION: But have you tried this? Triad (with Pilots & Co-Pilots) Advanced Configuration Student Facilitator and Co-pilots monitor student interactions (with text, peers, and facilitator)
STUDENT ROLE: BEFORE THE SEMINAR To prepare for the seminar, students should read and evaluate the texts at hand using the following strategies: Pre-read the text, with the purpose in mind. In this case, you have read several articles connected to SOCIAL NETWORKING. Along the way you have been asked to: Identifythe big ideas found in the three articles. Determine the two sides of the articles (positives and negatives of social networking) Evaluate the authors evidence in the three articles Create open-ended, high level prompts (using Costa s and Thinking Tool icons) that demonstrate a thorough understanding of the text.
STUDENT ROLE: BEFORE THE SEMINAR Costa s Levels of Inquiry + Thinking Tool icon = A scholarly prompt! Students will write 4 prompts for discussion on the left-hand side of their Cornell Notes. Sample Prompts: Analyze the change over time presented in Elizabeth Stone s Grief in the Age of Facebook. Why is Social Networking not always appropriate to use? Compare the authors perspectives regarding the value of social networking in Ham s We Shall Overshare and Schawbel s How Recruiters use Social Networking.
FACILITATOR: DURINGTHE SEMINAR The Socratic Seminar facilitator(s): Opens the seminar with the Essential Question(s). Facilitates the discussion, keeping fellow scholars focused on the text. Encourages fellow scholars to cite text to support their conclusions. Asks follow-up, digging deeper questions. Involves reluctant participants to ensure class-wide involvement in the discussion. Paraphrasing Summarizing Posing a new question Sharing an additional prompt
STUDENT ROLE: DURING THE SEMINAR Expected Note-taking Students will take notes on the right side of their Cornell Notes These notes can relate to the prompts they created and/or their notes should reflect the critical points made by peers in the discussion. Students can continue to generate prompts and/or copy down prompts of their fellow scholars to address.
STUDENT ROLE: DURING THE SEMINAR Using TRIADS to Increase Writing & Speaking to Learn Pilots will be responsible for contributing to the analysis of text(s) in the following ways: Prepare a minimum of three prompts for the seminar Share one discussion prompt (as written on Cornell notes) during an initial seminar Whip-Around Listen to other pilot ideas and questions and actively respond and question accordingly Seek support from Co-pilots as determined by the Socratic Seminar leader Share ideas from Co-pilot consultations when the Socratic Seminar continues
STUDENT ROLE: DURING THE SEMINAR Using TRIADS to Increase Writing & Speaking to Learn Co-pilots will be responsible for supporting the pilot of their triad in the following ways: Take notes on the conversation transpiring between pilots Make annotations/highlights on text(s) to support ideas Converse with pilot, when determined by the Socratic Seminar leader, regarding the question at hand Rotate to the pilot position, as determined by the teacher and/or Socratic Seminar leader Enter the Hot Seat to contribute fresh ideas that will move the dialogue forward in a productive way
AFTERTHE SEMINAR: WRITING, WRITING, WRITING! Opportunities for writing: Cornell Note Synthesis Reflective Paragraph/Essay Brainstorming/Pre-writing for a multi-paragraph formal writing piece Student summative writing piece should integrate the seminar s purpose along with textual evidence.
