To get inspiration for your teaching
21/10/2018
Many socratic facilitators are professional teachers in elementary and secondary schools or universities. They have a lot of experience with using the Neo-socratic approach in everyday school conditions.
Neo-socratic dialogue may be applied in school classes of 6-year old children as well as with University students. It allows participants to speak about values and ethical topics in safe environment.
- Small children talk about rules and whether they are important or about the meaning of friendship.
- Teenagers have a discussion about "white lies" or about the usage of violence
- University students may clarify ethical issues connected with their future profession etc.
From the pedagogical point of view, there are several main elements that make Neo-Socratic approach unique:
- Within a group a common consensus should be reached - we search for common values and ethical attitudes. Participants in Socratic Dialogue can experience that we can share common ideas and values
- Through specific attitude of the facilitator, participants naturally learn to cooperate during discussion and to help each other with formulations etc. Socratic dialogue is strictly non-competitive in contrast to other discussion methods. And yet it doesn´t lose its critical aspect of thinking
- Socratic dialogue and its principles allow pupils/students to be completely equal within the group. Everyone has some life experiences to share and to reflect and everyone within the group is important and has a role. Socratic dialogue strengthens the self-confidenceof those of pupils and students who usually remain silent in normal classes.