University of Education Lahore

Department of English
Course Title: General Method of Teaching

Programme: BS English

Course Code: EDUC1112

Instructor Name: Kareem Nawaz

 Socratic Method
Engaging students through dialogue
Who was Socrates?

• A classical Greek philosopher (469 B.C. – 399 B.C.)

• The founder of modern Western Philosophy
• His logic helped give birth to the Scientific Method
• A champion of oral modes of communication
• Influential students: Plato
•Aristotle
•xenophon
•A literary figure, reliable information about him comes from
Plato’s writings rather than traditional history
•A social and moral critic, his attempts to improve Athenians’
sense of justice may have led to his death
Introduction:

• Socrates didn't write books; he just liked to ask probing and

sometimes humiliating questions, which gave rise to the
famous Socratic Method of Teaching. This street-corner
philosopher made a career of deflating pompous windbags.
• Socrates was accused and convicted of corrupting the
youth, his only real crime was embarrassing and irritating a
number of important people. His punishment was death.
Socratic Method--Origins

Based on ideas of Socrates.

Socrates actual method was an extended public
dialogue/debate between teacher and a student (aka
“dialectic”). This can be rather harsh.
Therefore, we use a moderated version, consisting mostly
of group discussion.
Teacher poses questions rather than providing
answers.
Considered one of the most powerful teaching tools.
Purposes

To engage students by arousing their curiosity.

To make learning a participatory--not passive-- experience.
To encourage critical (i.e., higher-order) thinking and problem-
solving skills.
• Argument, cross-examining, testing, scrutinizing
•“Life without examination is not worth living.” -
SOCRATES
Technique

Stimulate discussion with probing questions.

Draw as many students as possible into the discussion.
Keep discussion focused.
Apply rigorous logic and ethics.
Allow students to disagree with instructor.
Periodically summarize what has and has not been dealt
with and/or resolved.
 Read dialogue with Socrates and respond to the
question
• Socrates: Is lying a bad thing?
• Student: Certainly. The gods tell us that lying is a terrible
sin.
• Socrates: So lying is always a terrible sin?
• Student: Absolutely
• Socrates: Well then… Let us suppose that a father’s son is
• terribly sick, but refuses to take his medicine. The father puts
• the medicine in his son’s drink and tells his son there is only water
in his drink. Is the father’s lie a terrible sin?

• Question: How would you respond to Socrates question? Why?

Structure

Socrates has suggested three steps:

1. To prepare questions and arrange them in a logical
sequence.
2. To present the questions in such a way that curiosity
arises among the learners.
3. To ask new questions by linking with the learner’s
response,
Principle

Following principles are as under:

1. Theory of unfoldment: all knowledge is within the child’

teacher cannot teach any thing from outside.

2. The knowledge can be emitted by linking the questions

with his answer.
Focus

• To achieve the cognitive objective and bringing

knowledge to the conscious level
Advantages of Socrates Method:
• Abilities needs and interest of the learners.

• Learners participation towards the subject matter

• Cognitive objectives and bringing knowledge at conscious level

• Interaction is encouraged

• Useful strategy
Dis advantages of Socrates Method :
• It is difficult to prepare good questions and arrange logically

• Whole content matter can not be taught

• Structured answer

• No freedom.
Suggestions
• Supplemented by lecture and demonstrated method

• Skilled teacher proper questions

• Question distribution
 THE END

Thanks for participating this session