Teacher Facilitated Instruction: the Socratic Method

In the  Socratic Method,  the teacher asks deeply probing questions to engage students in critical thinking,  encouraging  them to come to their own conclusions. This form of teaching is  often used in advanced high school electives and college seminars.   This pedagogy is dependent upon the teacher asking  the students good questions, while  in Harkness discussions  the students ask the questions and  drive the discussion.   These  approaches to dialogue, while related, are often confused. On this page are some good resources for  teaching using the Socratic Method.

Overview of a Socratic Seminar (PDF)
Socratic Circles - Matt Copeland (PDF)
Socratic Method as an Approach to Learning and its Benefits (PDF)
Socratic Seminar is Build on Dialogue (PDF)
Socratic Seminar Packet (PDF)
Socratic Seminar Reading and Discussion Strategy (PDF)
The Socratic Method: More Good Books and Resources (Google Doc)
The Examined Life: Learning in the Socratic Tradition (PDF)
The Role of Socratic Questioning in Thinking, Teaching, and Learning (PDF)
The Socratic Method as an Approach to Learning and its Benefits
The Teaching Life Path to Eudaemonia (PDF)
Who Needs Lectures? UVM Med School has a New Way to Teach (PDF)
An image that says “I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think” -Socrates