Please post one expectation for the Socratic seminar that you think will make the format successful and inclusive. Our goals are for everyone to have the opportunity to contribute positively to the discussion, and for the discussion to result in a greater understanding of the literature; your expectation should be one that furthers either of those goals. Please state your expectation in positive terms (that is, behaviors to pursue, rather than behaviors to be avoided), and endeavor not to repeat a previous comment, unless it's to embellish or refine it.
19 comments:
I believe that if each individual in class came to EVERY socratic seminar with one question and one reflection from the reading, everyone would potentially be more willing to share. Their words would be more clearly formulated.
Instead of just an open discussion on a chapter, a theme for discussion should be presented the previous day so that everyone is on the same page for the discussion.
Will H
I like when we all have to talk in class, go around the circle and share. I enjoy listening to waht everyone has to say it gives me a better perspective on whatever we are doing. I know that it takes more time to hear from everyone, but I feel I get more out of the disscusion because more points of view are expressed.
Maybe for each chapter we read everyone should pick out a theme or idea in the chapter that sparks their interest. Then for a ticket we could bring a short writing or brainstorm on the idea. That way, everyone has a broad interpretation of the reading that is developed enough to stem from, but open enough to change with discussion.
I think one of the main suggestions for a good discussion would be for each person in the class to consider thoughtfully someone's comment before slashing it to pieces. Obviously, each person has a good reason to make their comment and everyone in the class should ponder on it and respect their ideas instead of counting them to be ridiculous or impossible. Being open to all ideas and analysis is critically important.
Spirited, lively debate. Put things out in the open in an intellectually safe environment. Take some intellectual risks.
One thing that could contribute to good discussion would be everyone either reading the assigned part for discussion, or being honest and sit out of discussion. It's really hard to discuss particular sections when people don't read but comment anyways.
I think that each comment should have substance, instead of being siad simple so that the person is speaking.
I would really like to base our class discussions more on individual questions and relfections, instead of debating details and forming arguments based purely on opinion. Being open to others is important as well, and can create a more comfortable environment.
I like Kate's idea of picking out something in the reading that we found particularly interesting and then reading about it. Maybe at the beginning of the discussion, we could share our ideas with the people around us for a few minutes. Then the class could come back together for discussion. This way everyone has a chance to share their ideas, even if they choose not to speak in the socratic seminar.
I enjoyed each having a specific idea/topic to follow as a focus in our reading, and then updating the class periodically. That way, we all have something different but still relevant to bring to class.
I really enjoy in-class discussions such as our socratic seminars yet I am timid to participate. One thing that made a huge difference for me in relation to in-class discussions was the style of discussion presented within Mrs.Kakos' class my sophomore year. We held discussions called fish bowls, which I suppose is fundamentally the same as our socratic seminars, but instead of everyone coming into discussion unaware of what direction the discussion will go as we do, there were "leaders" of the fishbowl (they switched regularly) that came to class prepared with questions and key points referencing the text to throw into the discussion to keep it active and lively. These "leaders" also held the power to make sure everyone stayed on topic (which is hard to do in our class) and to make sure everyone participated. I believe if there was a bit more structure to our socratic seminars that they might go a bit more smoothly.
I think that instead of just speaking out we should start raising our hands because many times people are cut off because others just speak up louder and faster then others so not everyone has the chance to say what they want to. I think by raising hands we can help the quieter ones to speak out more and have more have a variety of speakers.
We should all be respectful of each person, and think about our comments before we say them. If it can be offensive, maybe it should be left unsaid.
This has been said but it's more concise:
be prepared or sit out.
Also, I'd appreciate it if we could stay on topic better and have more in depth discussions.
I like the current structure of our discussions, and really appreciate the freedom to sit out if you don't feel you have anything to contribute (or didn't read). I agree with both Will and Melanie. I like the idea of having a preview of the next day's discussion, so you can read with more direction. I also think we could benefit from mutual respect in that comments should not be said soley to provoke argument or offense.
I have felt almost afraid to say anything in our seminars because I see the way some students discount ideas so quickly and rudely. Being more careful to respect each other's opinions and ideas would be very helpful in gaining higher participation. Also, a the socratic seminar should not be so much about argueing about a chapter of the book, but discussing it. It sometimes seems that some students strive to create controversy rather than discuss literature.
I think the single most important action for us all to take is to make thoughtful comments. There is no better way to sidetrack a conversation than to force people to debunk a shallow idea, and when everyone probes for deep meaning the conversations are far more interesting.
this has already been said but I agree that if you haven't read you should sit out rather than commenting on something that you haven't read. I also think that a more thematic or broad discussion is more helpful than a discussion primarily based on the details, and I think if people are honest about their reading then a lot of that can be avoided.
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