The Power of the Socratic Classroom

Coding or Tracking Conversation

I often get questions about how to evaluate something as dynamic and complex as a conversation or Socratic Seminar. Sometimes the questions ask more about grading, but in any case, the best place to start is always the same. Not all conversations are equal, we all know that. But how do we distinguish a good one from a not-so-good one? Well, it depends on the goals for the dialogue, but usually: balance, equity, safety, critical & creative thinking, inquiry, and many other attributes. My recommendation is often the same: choose something to work on and start tallying the contributions. Start tracking or coding those responses. For example, if more people need to speak and some need to listen more (not speak less), then even simple tallying can help. Look to balance out participation so that things are more equitable. Eventually, you can even code the types of contributions: citing the text, asking a question, repeating an idea, adding an idea, etc. This data will help you and the students determine how well each conversation goes.