2024 №3 / Elevating engagement: unleashing the power of Socratic seminars to cultivate critical thinking, discourse, and argumentation in secondary education
Elevating engagement: unleashing the power of Socratic seminars to cultivate critical thinking, discourse, and argumentation in secondary education
Authors: Gulbarchyn Samakova
DOI: 10.62670/2308-7668.2024.49.3.012
Source: Issue: vol. 49 No. 3: 30 September 2024
Publisher: PE "Center of Excellence"
Document type: Research article
Abstract
This study used qualitative Action research to explore the transformative capacity of Socratic seminars among intellectually gifted 11th-grade students in Western Kazakhstan. Utilizing an extensive collection of classroom materials and field notes from researchers, the study investigates the impact of Socratic seminars on students’ critical thinking, argumentative reading and writing, and overall discourse.
The findings indicate that Socratic seminars foster a conducive learning atmosphere in which students are encouraged to confidently articulate their thoughts, critically examine texts, and participate in meaningful discussions. Students exhibited progress in their capacity to assess evidence, formulate well-substantiated arguments, and integrate various viewpoints. The research highlights the importance of using Socratic seminars as a teaching method that not only improves certain academic abilities but also cultivates a stronger passion for learning and a heightened sense of control among students.
Key words: Socratic seminars, argumentation, critical thinking, student engagement, discourse
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