Portable Assisted Study Sequence (PASS) Program

Socratic teaching is a powerful tool that promotes critical thinking. This method of instruction focuses on giving students questions, not answers. The inquiry model is applied by continually probing into the subject with questions. The abilities gained by focusing on the elements of reasoning in a disciplined and self-assessing manner and the logical relationships that result from such disciplined thought, prepare the student for Socratic questioning.

Universal intellectual standards is a criteria that must be applied to thinking whenever one is interested in challenging the quality of reasoning about an issue or situation. To think critically involves having command of these standards. To help students learn them, teachers should ask questions which stimulate student thinking, questions which hold students accountable for their thinking, questions when modeled by the teacher, become internalized by students as questions they need to ask themselves.

According to Dr. Richard Paul, Director of the Foundation for Critical Thinking at Sonoma State University, There are several universal standards, but the following are the most significant. Included are examples of questions for each standard.

Clarity: Could you elaborate further? Could you give me an example?

Accuracy: How can we determine if that is true? How can we verify your statements

Precision: Could you be more specific? Could you provide more details?

Relevance: How does that relate to the issue? How does that align with the question?

Depth: What are some of the complexities of this question? What factors need to be considered ?

Breadth: Do we need to consider another point of view? Do we need to look at this from a different perspective?

Logic: Does what you say follow from the evidence? Does all of this make sense?

Significance: Is this the central idea? Is this the most important issue to consider?

The goal of the Socratic Method of inquiry is for students to internalize a mode of questioning that will enable them to achieve a higher level of understanding and realization through content related areas of study.

Home » Methodology » Socratic Teaching
	Socratic Teaching
		Socratic teaching is a powerful tool that promotes critical thinking. This method of instruction focuses on giving students questions, not answers. The inquiry model is applied by continually probing into the subject with questions. The abilities gained by focusing on the elements of reasoning in a disciplined and self-assessing manner and the logical relationships that result from such disciplined thought, prepare the student for Socratic questioning. Universal intellectual standards is a criteria that must be applied to thinking whenever one is interested in challenging the quality of reasoning about an issue or situation. To think critically involves having command of these standards. To help students learn them, teachers should ask questions which stimulate student thinking, questions which hold students accountable for their thinking, questions when modeled by the teacher, become internalized by students as questions they need to ask themselves. According to Dr. Richard Paul, Director of the Foundation for Critical Thinking at Sonoma State University, There are several universal standards, but the following are the most significant. Included are examples of questions for each standard. Clarity: Could you elaborate further? Could you give me an example? Accuracy: How can we determine if that is true? How can we verify your statements Precision: Could you be more specific? Could you provide more details? Relevance: How does that relate to the issue? How does that align with the question? Depth: What are some of the complexities of this question? What factors need to be considered ? Breadth: Do we need to consider another point of view? Do we need to look at this from a different perspective? Logic: Does what you say follow from the evidence? Does all of this make sense? Significance: Is this the central idea? Is this the most important issue to consider? The goal of the Socratic Method of inquiry is for students to internalize a mode of questioning that will enable them to achieve a higher level of understanding and realization through content related areas of study.

Socratic Teaching