Team Teaching: Blending the Power of the Socratic Method with Traditional Pedagogy

This case study discusses the introduction of the Socratic Method into a traditional computer science classroom. We begin by contrasting the instructional style found within traditional pedagogy with that of a Socratic practitioner. We subsequently present a case study in which juniors being educated in a traditional manner were called upon by a visiting Socratic practitioner to develop the German WWII ENIGMA encryption system in assembly language in five weeks. We hope to confirm in this paper that Socratic Methods can virtually assure success once the power of independent learning and self-reliance is unleashed to create a “failure is not an option” culture in the classroom.