The Socratic Method

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The Socratic Method

• Derek Schulze
• ETE 653
• June 27, 2007

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• What would happen if you
• taught your class by only
• asking questions?

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• The method of using questions
• to teach and evaluate performance is
• the Socratic Method.

It allows for quick evaluation of what a student
does and doesnt know.
It also allows the instructor to continually
adapt the material and level of the lesson to
better meet the students needs.
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• To teach is to learn.

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• Socratic teaching is a powerful tool that
  promotes critical thinking.

• It is applied by continually probing into the
  subject with questions.

When conducting Socratic sessions, you as the
teacher must have a clear vision of what it is
you want your students to take away from them.
It is essential to have your endpoint in mind so
that you can always be angling towards it.
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Lets practice . . .

• Finders keepers, losers weepers

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A Socratic Questioner should . . .

• Keep the discussion focused

Keep the discussion intellectually responsible
Stimulate the discussion with probing
questions
Periodically summarize what has and what has
not been dealt with and/or resolved
Draw as many students as possible into the
discussion
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• Types of Questions to be used with performing the
  Socratic Method

Questions of Clarification
Questions that Probe Assumptions
Questions that Probe Reason and Evidence
Questions that Probe Implications and Consequences
Questions about Viewpoints or Perspectives
Questions about the Question
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Categories and Levels of Classroom Questions
Moore, K. D. (2005). Effective instructional
strategies From theory to practice. Thousand
Oaks, CA Sage Publications, Inc.