Rob Howard

Biogram

Rob is the owner of the Online Language Center and Business Language Training Institute. He is a teacher, trainer, ELT author and frequent worldwide speaker on Business English, Teacher Development, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, teaching online, and using or not using technology and AI. He is the current IATEFL Poland president, past Joint Coordinator of the IATEFL BESIG and IATEFL BESIG Web and Online team, member of the EdYOUfest Academic Team, founder of the Independent Authors & Publishers and EFLtalks and has presented for Gallery Teachers Masterclasses, iTDi TOEFL training, ELI Publishing, Macmillan Publishers, International House, and IATEFL LTSIG, to name a few.

The Socratic Method Rebooted: Critical Thinking in the AI Age

Critical thinking (CT) has long been heralded as an essential skill for learners, yet despite decades of discourse on its importance, it has often failed to be addressed with the urgency and depth it deserves, especially in EFL classrooms. In the age of AI, where information is abundant, but discernment is scarce, fostering critical thinkers has never been more crucial. This talk explores how the Socratic Method—a timeless approach based on dialogue, questioning, and reflection—can be rebooted to meet the challenges of modern education.

By reintroducing the Socratic Method into EFL learning environments, we can encourage learners to engage deeply with content, question assumptions, and articulate their thoughts clearly and critically. In an age where AI technologies can provide answers but not reasoning, the need for learners to develop their own evaluative and reflective skills is paramount. Through open-ended questions, collaborative dialogue, and intellectual curiosity, the Socratic Method can cultivate a generation of thoughtful, analytical individuals who don’t just accept information at face value but instead question, probe, and interpret it.

This session will demonstrate how, with the integration of AI tools, educators can enhance the Socratic dialogue in EFL classrooms, promoting critical thinking in a way that goes beyond rote memorization. Rebooting the Socratic Method isn’t just about asking the right questions, it's about equipping learners to think independently and critically in an AI-driven world.