Lesson 1_Socratic Questioning

8/6/2019 Lesson 1_Socratic Questioning

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SOCRATIC QUESTIONING

A starting point for critical thinking

Lesson 1


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Which is more important?

Questions

Answers

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SILENCED?

What if no questions had ever been asked, for example, in Physics or Biology or in any other intellectual field?

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The last time you had to think very hard about something...

Were you asking yourself questions?

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So questioning is the tool...

Questions

Drivethinking

Definetasks

Expressproblems

Delineateissues

Signal realthinking +learning

(c) 2009 Foundation for Critical Thinking.Available from: http://www.criticalthinking.org/articles/the-role-socratic-questioning-ttl.cfm [Accessed 26 November2010]

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Types of questions and their power

Questions ofpurpose

Questions of

infor ation

Questions ofinterpretation

Questions ofassu ption

Questions ofi plication

Questions ofpoint-of-view

Questions of

relevance

Questions ofaccuracy

Questions ofprecision

Questions of

consistency

Questions oflogic

(c) 2009 Foundation for Critical Thinking.Available fro

: http://www.criticalthinking.org/articles/the-role-socratic-questioning-ttl.cf

[Accessed 26 Nove

ber2010]6


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In a nutshell...

Quality ofquestions

Quality ofthe thinking

AnswersA full stopto thought

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WHAT IS SOCRATIC QUESTIONING?

And whats so special about it?

Socrates with Disciples by Raffaello Santi (1483-1520). Available from:http://nibiryukov.narod.ru/nb_pinacoteca/nbe_pinacoteca_philosophers_a.htm [Accessed 3 December 2010]

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Origins ofSocratic Questioning

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Named for Socrates (470-399 B.C.), the Greek

philosopher/teacher, a Socratic approach is

based on the practice of disciplined, rigorously

thoughtful dialogue between two parties. Thedisciplined practice of thoughtful questioning

enables us to examine ideas logically and to

determine the validity of those ideas. Also

known as the dialectical approach, this type ofquestioning can correct misconceptions and

lead to reliable knowledge construction.

(c)

9

e

art

ent of

ysics at Illinois State University


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What is Socratic Questioning?

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` Systematic, focused approach toquestioning

` Disciplined, structured questioning

` Dialogue format:

` Interviewer asks a series of

questions, each building on the

responses provided by the

interviewee

` Serves two main purposes:

` Deconstruct existing knowledge

` Construct new knowledge

What the r

rati adds is

systemati ity, depth,

anda een interest in

assessing the tr th r

plausi ility f things.~ F undati n f r riti al

hinking, 2


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Why use Socratic Questioning?

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` Helps you think critically by focusing explicitly on theprocess of thinking

` Causes you to slow down and examine your own thinking

processes (i.e., reflective thinking)

` Helps you achieve the following learning goals:

Science Education Resource Center @ Carleton College (2010) Why use Socratic Questioning?[online].Available from: http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/socratic/third.html [Accessed 5 December 2010]

Learn to use

scientificpractices of

inquiry

Practise

active, self-driven

learning

Facilitate

inquiry-based

learning

Constructknowledge

Developproblem-solving skills

Improve

long-termretention ofknowledge


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How it works

Socraticquestioning

Deconstructexisting

knowledge

Tests ones truelevel of

understandingof the issue in

focus

Assesses thevalidity of ones

views andbeliefs

Reveals thegaps in onesknowledge;opens ones

mind to otherpossibilities

Constructnew

knowledge

Discovernew/other waysof approaching/

viewing/addressing

problems/issues

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Types ofSocratic Questions

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Types ofSocratic Questions

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Questions forclarification

Questions aboutthe initial

question or issue

Questions thatprobe

assumptions

Questions thatprobe reasons and

evidence

Questions aboutorigin or source

Questions aboutviewpoints and

perspectives

Questions thatprobe

implications and

consequences


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Preparing for a Socratic Dialogue

How do you use the Socratic questions in a dialogue?

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Heres an example of a dialogue...

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` What is your favourite music video(MV) which is based on a social

cause?

` Why?

` Why was the MV written?

[INITIAL QUESTION/PURPOSE]

` Could you elaborate on _____?

[ISSUE]

` Whose point(s) of view is/are

presented? [Or, which interest

group do the singers represent?]

[VIEWPOINTS &

PERSPECTIVES]

` What are the singers assumingwhen they did this MV?

[ASSUMPTIONS]

` What are the possible

consequences of the issues as a

result of this MV?[IMPLICATIONS &

CONSEQUENCES]

` What evidence was presented?

[REASONS &

EVIDENCE/DATA]

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Lesson 1_Socratic Questioning