The Socratic method of teaching was dicovered by Socrates over 2500 years ago. Socrates thought it very important that students question the world around them and that it was then that true learning took place. Each question that is asked and attempted to answer peels away another layer until the student begins to deal with some of the basic questions of mankind, i.e., what is happiness, how do communities deal with descrimination, or how do communities decide the type of leadership or government that is needed? It is in the questioning and thinking that the learning takes place, not the correct answer. Indeed, there is no correct answer nor perhaps could there ever be one.
The Socratic method has traditionally been practiced in American law schools. Today it has found its way into the pubic and private school classroom as a way to teach students the higher level thinking skills that are needed to succeed in today's world. States, like New York, are testing students on their use of knowledge not just the facts. The Socratic method teaches a way of thinking, a way of approaching a problem. Teachers gather material for seminars from various resources. One good source for beginning practitioners is Touchstones,a company that produces discussion materials for all different level classes.