Teachers who have pursued online Doctorate programsmay support classroom conversations and learning in a variety of ways. The Socratic approach is one philosophy they may take into account. Gaining additional knowledge about this approach might assist you in determining whether or not to implement it in your classroom. The Socratic method’s elements, advantages, and practical classroom implementation advice are covered in this article.
What Is the Socratic Method Of Teaching?
The Socratic style of teaching is essentially a stimulating conversation between a teacher and their pupils. It is modeled after the method of the philosopher Socrates, who was renowned for involving young people in discussions intended to clarify general concepts while also highlighting their nuances and ambiguities.
A teacher who employs the Socratic method of instruction asks pupils a series of open-ended questions (questions that have more than a yes/no response) on a particular topic or issue in place of providing information and facts. Students are then free to ask their inquiries.
Teachers who use the Socratic style of instruction serve more as guides or facilitators of class discussions than as knowledge suppliers. They force students to think about why things are the way they are and to weigh arguments for and against opposing views on a certain subject.
What Are The Essential Components Of The Socratic Method?
Here are a few factors you should remember while employing the Socratic method in your classroom:
1. Uses Questions To Examine Students
To support their ways of living, the participants use inquiry to first identify and then defend their moral intuitions about the world. The goal of Socratic inquiry is to uncover the beliefs and motives that guide students’ lives.
Therefore, while proponents of the Socratic approach may want their pupils to be aware of facts, they are more interested in what the student thinks about them than in what other people think! Citing authority is pointless.
2. Focuses on Moral Education
Socratic questions are aimed at certain conversation participants. What each person thinks or says about the world is the focus of the investigation, not what is stated or thought about the world as a whole.
Investigating each inquirer’s core values and beliefs is the aim, without taking into account depersonalized statements and abstractions. Since the participants’ views and values form the basis of Socratic inquiry, when those beliefs or values are contested or disproved, the coherence of the individuals’ lives is at risk.
3. Individual Expression
The Socratic approach emphasizes what each person has to say rather than events or facts. Instead of only quoting others, this enables the pupils to create authority while expressing their thoughts.
Instead of persuading pupils that there is just one right way of thinking, individual expression might help them understand that other cultures and perspectives exist.
4. Productive Discomfort
The Socratic approach occasionally encourages pupils to investigate new subjects. This might foster an atmosphere in which pupils may communicate feelings or thoughts for the first time. The instructor selecting students at random to contribute their views or voice their opinions might help the debate. Students can stay focused and be able to discuss their main ideas by doing this.
What Are The Benefits Of the Socratic Method?
The following are some justifications for using the Socratic method in your general education classroom or while instructing specific subjects:
- Builds critical thinking skills
- Facilitates quick thinking
- Inspires attentiveness and preparedness
- Boosts active learning
- Encourages in-depth analysis
- Fosters inclusivity and recognizes differences of opinion
How Can You Use The Socratic Method In The Classroom?
The following advice will help you make the most of the Socratic method:
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Set Guidelines
To encourage participation and response from your students, establish clear expectations and be open about your teaching style. As the Socratic method is based on dialogue, be careful to get to know the kids’ names as well as theirs. Explain that they may actively listen to and discuss subjects with one another after everyone is acquainted. This entails participating actively in class and offering more than one statement or idea.
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Be Patient
An active and continuous debate may take some time since students may need some time to become used to this teaching style. The classroom may be quiet at times because students may be reluctant to respond. It’s crucial to allow pupils to take their time answering questions and to feel at ease in the quiet. Think about changing the question or choosing a student at random to respond if, after ten seconds, there is still no response.
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Encourage Comfort
One strategy to create tension in the classroom is to cold call, or choose students at random to respond to questions. Every individual prepares a response and may or may not add to the conversation. In order to steer students away from their familiar acquaintances or groups, you may also divide them up into small groups for talks. Discomfort allows students to investigate subjects in novel ways that may alter their perspectives on particular subjects.
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Ask Clarifying Questions
To maintain a conversation, it’s critical to respond to student responses with questions. This encourages pupils to go beyond a summary of what they have read or studied and investigate further the significance or relevance of the subject. You may inquire about their opinions on a subject, if they have encountered such circumstances, how they or someone else would feel about it, and what they believe the author’s aims are.
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Be Brief
Try to limit your instruction to brief interjections or mini-lessons. The majority of the class must be devoted to student interaction. While lengthy talks or lectures may work in some contexts, the Socratic approach encourages students to research subjects independently without giving them a list of necessary facts.
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Encourage Innovation
Promote ideas that might not fit the collective definition of normal, provided that they are given careful thought. When teachers and students are thinking beyond what they may already know, the Socratic technique is most effective. Encourage innovative thinking and provide clarification as necessary to encourage other pupils to consider that concept.
Bottom Line
As educators with a Doctorate in Education, you need to understand that the ultimate goal of the Socratic style of instruction is to assist students in better comprehending a subject, including its intricacies. Additionally, it seeks to encourage students to participate more actively in the learning process by questioning ingrained beliefs and encouraging independent thought.
