Socratic Pedagogy and Classroom Practice

Abstract

As a result of current innovations and reforms in education, teachers are increasingly required to adopt new approaches to teaching and learning, with emphasis on curriculum integration and new pedagogies to facilitate student-learning. In connection with these reforms a growing number of theorists of education are advocating inquiry-based education with emphasis on integrating curriculum, pedagogy and assessment to improve teaching and learning. This is in stark contrast to traditional or direct teaching methods. Of particular importance is the increasing acceptance of the need for the teaching of philosophy and philosophical inquiry to children. This development is recognised in the UNESCO study as a response to cultural and political needs. This is one of the reasons why the teaching of philosophy and philosophical inquiry to children was given a privileged treatment in that study.