THINK socratic seminars is an Academic Enhancement Program for Middle School and High School students. It is a modified version of the socratic seminar that will improve students’ skills in critical thinking, critical reading, verbal communication, listening, collaboration, and socialization. All of these skills are important for success in high school…in college…and in life.
THINK socratic seminars is not an extension of the school model – it is different. It is an alternative approach to the development of a student’s skills. This program is not like a typical class discussion. It is a collaborative learning experience where students will connect with each other on an intellectual and social level through a respectful dialogue
THINK is about inquiry – students are encouraged to ask questions and to participate in the dialogue. Every student has a voice here and will not be afraid to use it. In THINK socratic seminars, the students’ questions guide the dialogue and push forward for answers to their questions. According to Dan Rothstein “When students know how to ask their own questions, they take greater ownership of their learning, deepen comprehension, and make new connections and discoveries on their own.”
The seminar is brought to your location. Each seminar is 75 minutes long and meets twice a week for 4 weeks. It is held in a conference-like setting. The seminars are small – only ten students. Each grade level has its own seminar. The atmosphere is relaxed and stress free. There are no grades or assessments. Students read a short passage that is relevant to their lives then engage in a thought-provoking dialogue with their peers. Ten students’ opinions are shared, proven, refuted, and refined. A dialogue is different than a debate. A debate is an exchange of information designed to win an argument and bring closure. The dialogue in a THINK socratic seminar is about exploring the text and other ideas.
The Creator and Director of the program is Helen DeFina. She is the Leader of the seminars. The role of the Leader is to keep the dialogue honest, fun, engaging, and real. She makes sure that the students control the dialogue. Each person speaks and listens to each other in a respectful way giving full consideration to the ideas of others.
THINK socratic seminars is an active learning experience, not passive learning. It was created with precision focus on the areas of thinking, speaking, and listening. Speaking and listening are fundamental to human relationships. Technology is great, but today it seems that our young people have their faces in front of screens 24/7 – phones (texting), computers (social media), video games, and television. THINK Socratic seminars is a “no screen” zone. It’s about ten students engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue.
Participation in THINK socratic seminars is a powerful learning opportunity that expands students’ understanding of multiple content areas and improves students’ learning by making it more meaningful and engaging. Students feel empowered and gain confidence in themselves and that’s the best part of it!