PHENOMA practical book for schools 2019 PHENOMA practical book for schools 2019 | Page 85

Socratic Method
One of the major principles of Paideia Programme is the technique of learning called Socrates
questioning.
‘The three types of teaching should occur in our schools. These are didactic teaching of subject
matter, coaching that produces the skills of learning, and Socratic questioning in seminar
discussion;
During the project work in Martina Franca School in Italy we had an opportunity to sample this
powerful method of acquiring new concepts and skills. In international groups under the
supervision of the leader we were able to explore the abstract themes, searching for the truth
and developing our reasoning.
The principle underlying the Socratic method is that students learn through the use of critical
thinking, reasoning, and logic. This technique involves finding holes in their own theories and
then patching them up. The goal is for students to solidify their knowledge of the case by
thinking critically under pressure.
There are further advantages of implementing the method in class discussions. Students do not
feel stressed, there are no right and wrong answers, we are in the process of exercising the mind.
With the mutual respect we share ideas and thoughts based on the content we read or watch
beforehand. Being familiar with the theme we want to debate on makes our interaction more
relevant, substantial and to the point.
Summary
The eventual goal of the Paideia program is creating schools which are communities of
thoughts, where students and teachers alike focus on their skill and attitude of lifelong
learning and continuous improvement. The programme our project group worked on for two
years found many inspirational notions proposed by Adler’s group. They gave us an idea for a
solid foundation of our own program, whose ultimate goal is our students’ well-being.
Only when they feel safe, equipped with knowledge how to cope with stress, how to learn
and how to quiten their minds,, will they be willing to learn.