Developing the Socratic Classroom

Abstract

Much of education is focused on the achievement of certain basic skills and knowledge. This focus can be attributed to a commonly held view of education that raising the general level of IQ of children through the teaching and learning of thinking skills together with some knowledge of the world will assist them as future adult citizens. Beyond the ‘3Rs’ literacy and numeracy are now the cornerstones of learning. The aim of many governments is to ensure that all students gain at least the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy so that they overcome educational disadvantage, and that it is crucial for children to develop these foundational skills at the earliest possible time in their school years.