How do Socratic Seminars teach to state standards and critical thinking skills?
Socratic Seminars directly and powerfully address many district, state, and national educational standards. A Socratic Seminar is a highly stimulating way for students to:
READ with Comprehension
understand and use different skills and strategies to read
understand the meaning of what is read
read different materials for a variety of purposes.
COMMUNICATE Effectively and Responsibly
use listening and observation skills to gain understanding
communicate ideas clearly and effectively
use communication strategies to work effectively with others
Socratic Seminars improve Critical Thinking and Critical Reading skills by teaching students to:
- Clearly express opinions with supporting evidence from the text
- Question or defend the accuracy of what they read
- Challenge the ideas of the author by noting bias, distortion, or lack of information
- Contrast the accuracy of one text with other sources to form defensible critiques
- Make solid judgments about a text derived from interpretation and inferential information
The intellectual, academic, and social benefits of regular participation by students of all abilities in Socratic Seminars matches those for students participating in Touchstones discussions. Both Socratic Seminars and Touchstones have genuine dialogue as a goal of each seminar and discussion activity. The same is true of Paideia Seminars from the National Paideia Center. Please see a short description of the similarities and difference between Socratic Seminars, Paideia, and Touchstones Discussions.