Socratic Seminar

The Socratic Seminar method is a conversation model which aims for deep understanding and dialogue about a topic or text. It is student centered and encourages students to lead the conversation rather than the teacher controlling the conversation. There are a few different ways to run a Socratic seminar, some being more structured than others. The type used in our Adolescent Development class had two circles-- an inner and an outer. First, the inner circle discussed the text while the outer circle sat on the outside, and had specific behaviors they were observing, such as body language, how the group deals with confrontation, etc. This outer group was not allowed to contribute to this conversation, they were merely observing the mechanics of the conversation. After a certain amount of time the two circles switched, and so did their roles. Now, the initial inner circle sits on the outside observing. This allows both groups engage thoughtfully in the text AND observe the positive behaviors that contribute to successful dialogue.

While many people acknowledge the educational value of Socratic seminars, some people fear that only high school aged students are mature enough to partake. I disagree, and feel this model can be extremely effective in encouraging student-centered learning and healthy conversational skills. I believe this technique to be especially beneficial when repeated rather frequently. If in a 7th grade classroom a Socratic seminar was held once a month, it becomes a routine, and the positive skills associated with the seminar become habits as well. Another beneficial aspect of Socratic Seminar's are the fact that they can be universally applied to any topic or class. In my high school I used them frequently in history class as well as psychology class. They can also be helpful when discussing science based texts as evidenced by the discussion on adolescent brain development from last week in class. They are a dynamic and engaging way to create deeper learning in the classroom. They offer students the opportunity to find their way into their own learning and build interpersonal skills they will need in every aspect of their upcoming lives.

Although I was not able to be in class for the actual Socratic Seminar on adolescent brain development, the follow up discussion in class was illuminating. Everyone seemed to see it as an overall positive experience, and said they would be likely to use it in their future classrooms. Although some had minor critiques on the way the inner/outer circle interacted, all felt confident that some form of a Socratic Seminar would be beneficial to their students. After looking into the mechanics and ideology behind Socratic Seminar's and hearing the experience of my peers, I confidently place a Socratic Seminar on my teaching bucket list :)