Implementing Socratic Seminars in the Classroom

May 9 - 10, 2014

Chiangmai, Thailand

Workshop Feedback

 

The data below is summarized from quantitative data on the Workshop Evaluation Form distributed at the end of the workshop:

 

The workshop provided me with helpful ideas

Agree - 100%

Disagree - 0%

 

The workshop provided me with helpful strategies

Agree - 100%

Disagree - 0%

 

The workshop met the outlined objectives

Agree - 100%

Disagree - 0%

 

The handouts were valuable

Agree - 100%

Disagree - 0%

 

Additional Comments

 

"I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop.  John was a fantastic leader and I'm excited to apply what I've learned.  Will recommend ."

 

"Very useful, helpful, enjoyable."

 

"John was an engaging, supportive, informative presenter."

 

"It was perfect!  I really appreciated Mr. Zola's professionalism and experience."

 

"A fun professional development experience."

 

"Excellent time-keeping."

 

"John Zola is an excellent role model of seminar leader."

 

 

 

Given below is a compilation of participants' response to the following query on the Workshop Evaluation Form:  

"Theory/Skills acquired from the workshop that you can use immediately"

 

  • Opening Questions

  • Inviting students to discuss based on non-verbal cues

  • Wait time - relinquishing my agenda

  • Invite participation

  • Keep waiting time

  • Use interesting open questions

  • Less personal agenda

  • Refer to text

  • Mindfulness of self

  • New format

  • Expository response

  • Socratic Seminar as an after school activity

  • More confidence as a leader

  • Can start to implement Socratic Seminars immediately

  • Strategies of tick and whip arounds

  • How to choose appropriate texts

  • Things to keep in mind while leading

  • Being open minded is required to be a good leader

  • Critique

  • Guided discussion - Socratic Seminar Intention

  • Effective pariticipant skills

  • Effective questioning

  • See-think-wonder

  • Facilitating skills as a leader

  • The process/steps of conducting Socratic Seminar

  • How to own text for the seminar

  • To listen to people

  • Classroom management (in seminar)

  • Ways to include all students

  • Giving thinking time

  • Assessing a ticket or homework before a seminar

  • The 'observer' technique/strategies

  • Change the seat to have round-trip pair work