e-Learning Ecologies MOOC’s Updates

Socratic dialogue or Socratic circle in classroom

Socratic dialogue is a teaching strategy that encourage students to communicate and be involved in the topic of examination. As some students may refrain fromm participation during class in fear of being called out for saying a wrong answer, this strategy is best to overcome this problem. Basically, the strategy involves asking questions and having an open persuasive discussion where there isn't right or wrong answer, each talker has to persuade other and prove his point with facts to support his opinion, or others who contradict with what he/she is saying will be able to prove their point and persuade the student with evident to prove their point and substitute the wrong opinion with facts. Socratic dialogue requires certain classroom seating arrangement where students have to form two circles (inner circle for the talker and outer circle for the listener) - as shown in the picture taken from Ask a Tech Teacher blog-  and the teacher role is mainly to be an instructor who makes sure to keep the dialogue going and build up the questions at the beginning stage of the discussion.

This strategy helps to develop students' higher thinking skills along with communicative skills.

More about this strategy is writing by Jacqui Murray (2017) on: https://askatechteacher.com/is-the-socratic-method-right-for-your-class/