AVID: socratic seminar handouts

"The best Socratic Seminars are those in which something new and unexpected is discovered. This happens when the Socratic Seminar is approached as a collective search for information or exploration of ideas through dialogue, rather than a defense of opinions through debate."

As William Cope stated in the video lectures, authentic pedagogy is focused more on internalized understanding and students take a more acitve part in their learning. Through socratic seminars students become the ones discussing, asking questions, completing rubrics on whether their peers active listeners and participants in the socratic seminars. Students are asked to make connections between the ideas in the text provided by the teacher and what they know from their own life experience. In turn, students are sharing their background knowledge and connecting new concepts learned from their peers into their own lives. 

A Socratic seminar is successful if all students are prepared to participate. Expectations need to be laid out and held. Ideally students do not speak to the teacher or seminar leader. They are to discuss the ideas of the text and not each other’s opinions. Continuous seminars will help students follow the rules and expectations and learn how to respect each other’s opinions whether they agree with them or not.

These are the rules from the handout I attached above: (these can be adjusted according to the classroom culture and environment)

• Be prepared to participate and ask good questions. The quality of

the Socratic Seminar is diminished when participants speak without

preparation.

• Show respect for differing ideas, thoughts, and values—no put-downs or

sarcasm.

• Allow each speaker enough time to begin and finish his or her thoughts—

don’t interrupt.

• Involve others in the discussion, and ask them to elaborate on their

responses.

• Build on what others say—ask questions to probe deeper, clarify,

paraphrase, add to, and synthesize a variety of different views in your

own summary.

• Use your best active listening skills—nod, make eye contact, lean

forward, provide feedback, and listen carefully to others.

• Participate openly and keep your mind open to new ideas and

possibilities.

• Refer to the text often, and give evidence and examples to support your

response. Discuss the ideas of the text, not each other’s opinions or

personal experiences.

• Take notes about important points that you want to remember or new

questions that you want to ask.

Language scripts are also provided for students who are struggling or just shy in general. I have only conducted a handful of Socratic seminars but I am eager to plan for them. They can be held about a text, song lyrics, policies, art pieces, environmental issues, etc. There are also different class arrangements held for the Socratic seminars, which teachers can choose based off what they think, will work best for their classroom.
Socratic seminars are something new for I believe many teachers or at least the way they are being implemented now. Students are provided with an observation checklist and rubric so they are aware of their expectations and roles as participants.