FROM SOCRATES TO SCREENS: EXAMINING THE EVOLUTION OF SOCRATIC DIALOGUE IN ONLINE EDUCATION

Abstract

Socratic dialogue is a form of discussion between two or more people, where one brings up an argument and the other provides a rebuttal or affirmation till they reach a level of shared understanding. This dialogue is used as a teaching system where teachers provide questions to which students, through critical thinking, give answers. Socratic dialogue is now widely used in online education, therefore this study focused on examining the evolution of Socratic dialogue in online education. This research aims to understand how the historical roots and philosophical foundation of the Socratic teaching methods are related to the digital learning environment today. It employs a qualitative research method by means of a literature review. This study touched upon aspects such as the concept of online teaching methods, historical overview of Socratic dialogue, platforms for Socratic dialogue, choice of engagement, and the effectiveness and challenges of Socratic dialogue in online teaching methods. The findings of this study show that Socratic dialogue indeed enables active participation leading to critical thinking among all students. Despite the challenges such as lack of access within financially disadvantaged areas, Socratic dialogue still remains a significant tool to address lack of interactiveness in online education. As more schools continue to embrace its adoption, the future promises profound understanding for all students, rather than just a selected few.