Socratic Method Forum

[kahechsof]

"I have an opinion far different from these options which I will explain in a posted reply."

I have studied in an institution which actually used the socratic method, and I can tell you- what you see in law school has no relation to what socrates did.
Cold calling is about making sure you read the material assigned. It has no relation to learning. Having students recite the facts of the case does not help them or the other students learn any differently than the professor just saying them, or assuming you already know what you are supposed to have read.

The socratic method is supposed to be that the teacher leads the discussion by asking thoughtful questions which cause the students to discover themselves what is to be learned. I have never seen a professor in law school do that.
I have seen them ask thoughtful questions, and then if the answer given was not to their liking, they eventually just spit out what they want to say. I rarely seen interaction between students during class. I rarely see sides forming, and different possibilities coming out.

Part of it is that there is simply not enough time, and part of it is that the professors are not teaching anything very intellectual. I have rarely walked out of class with the feeling that I needed to think about an idea further because I wasn't sure about. I do sometimes not understand an idea, but that is easily rectified by just asking the professor to clarify. I don't pace the library pondering anything from class.

[thegrayman]

first few class sessions in torts, my professor cold-called someone. the person hadn't read and was like "oh I'm sorry I thought that the syllabus had that reading for next class session so I haven't read it yet." The prof. was fairly irked by the student and went on this little rant about how people need to come prepared to class, etc. After that she tells the student it's ok, but in the future she should come to class prepared. Then, she literally goes, "So, Ms. XXX" and proceeds to ask her the EXACT same question. It was brutal. That was when I decided I would rather pull an all-nighter reading than show up to torts unprepared...

[Lasers]

all my teachers use the socratic method.

with that said, i still haven't been cold called once in any class.

must be a record.

[Grizz]

I've had professors make fun of me on cold calls. Who cares. I just say dumb shit. I barely read. Fuck them.

[Lasers]

I've had professors make fun of me on cold calls. Who cares. I just say dumb shit. I barely read. Fuck them.

that's the spirit.

kill the exams and you'll be the one laughing.

[jess]

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