The Socratic Classroom

A practical guide to a new hybrid model of teaching that blends lectures and student-centered learning through theory inspired by Socrates.In this book Joseph Ulatowski and Robert Colter present the Socratic Model of Scaffolded Learning, a method that draws inspiration from both developmental psychology and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. They liken this process to athletic coaching: just as coaches guide athletes through repeated practice and constructive feedback, instructors help students learn from mistakes and refine their intellectual skills. Their model reframes teaching as a dynamic, social practice—less about transmitting accurate knowledge and more about cultivating resilience, critical thinking, and lifelong learning habits. Unlike the adversarial tone often associated with the “Socratic Method,” they emphasize Socrates’ conciliatory and supportive interactions found in platonic dialogues such as Lysis, Crito, and Meno. The result is a more inclusive, dialogical and philosophically grounded classroom environment. Their approach encourages the gradual reduction of instructional support as students gain confidence and competence. This is an important introduction to a powerful teaching methodology applicable across disciplines and institutional contexts. It offers an exciting, socially responsive framework that is theoretically robust, and deeply informed by both classical philosophy and contemporary learning theory.