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Symposium
INTRODUCTION:
Symposium originally referred to a drinking
party (the Greek verb sympotein means "to
drink together") but has since come to refer
to any academic conference, or a style of
university class characterized by an openly
discursive format, rather than a lecture and
question–answer format.
MEANING AND DEFINITION:
The word “symposium” has several dictionary meanings.
Firstly Plato has used the term for “good dialogue” to present
the views towards god.
Another meaning of the term is the intellectual recreation or
enjoyment.
 “ Symposium is a meeting of persons to discuss a problem or
theme. The views on a theme are presented in a sequence. The
specific aspect of a theme is presented by an expert of the theme.”

- B.T.Basavanthappa
“Two or more persons under the direction of a chairman
present separate speeches which gives several aspects of one
question.” - K.P.Neeraja

“Symposium is consist of a set of programme of prepared

speeches followed by audience discussion.” - K.P.Neeraja
OBJECTIVES OF SYMPOSIUM
•To identify and understand two various aspects of theme and
problems.

•To develop the ability to decision and judgment regards the

problem.

•To develop the values and feelings regarding a problem.

•To enable the listeners to from policies regarding a theme or

problem
PURPOSE OF SYMPOSIUM:

•To investigate a problem from several points of view.

•To boost students ability to speak in group.

•To make the students to study independently

THE TECHNIQUE OF CONDUCTING SYMPOSIUM:

1.The symposium needs to be planned and conducted carefully to be

successful.
2. It should be planned ahead of time.
3. The speakers should be those who have expertise in the subject for
discussion.
4. The experts and the audience should know the objectives of the
symposium and the breadth of the topic to be discussed.
5.The speaker should be given sufficient time to prepare their topic
well.
6.The teacher needs to contact and meet the experts to make sure
that the topic is covered from all aspects and that there are no lapses
and overlapping
The success of symposium depends:
•Largely of the personnel involved
•The degree of preparation
•Planning of programme ahead of time
•Avoiding overlapping ,repetition of material, covering
different aspects of the topic
•Speakers as well each member of the group should know
the objectives of the symposium and what breadth it
needs to be covered
METHOD OF CONDUCTING SYMPOSIUM:
The teacher or a student may function as a chairman. The
chairman:
•Opens the symposium
•Introduces the topic and the speakers and ensures that each
speaker keeps to the time allotted
•Also invites question from the audience and directs the
discussion after presentation of all the speeches
•Finally sum up after all the speakers have spoken and closes
the session
•Symposium method is more formal than a panel discussion
and the participation from the audience may not always play a
great part. The questions from the audience if any may be
addressed to the chairperson, who may refer these to the
relevant speaker.
MECHANISUM OF SYMPOSIUM TECHNIQUE:

1. The symposium is a type of discussion, in which two or more

speakers, talk from ten to twenty minutes develop individual
approaches or solution to a problem or present aspects of a policy,
process or program.
2 . The speeches are as followed by questions or comments from the
audience, as in the panel forum. The speeches may be persuasive,
argumentative, informative or evocative.
3. Each speech proceeds without interruption.
4.The chairman of the symposium introduces the topic,
suggests something of its importance, and sometimes
indicates the general approaches.
5. The symposium forum serves an excellent device for
informing an audience, crystallizing opinion; and in
general preparing the listeners for arriving at decision,
policies, value judgment or understanding.
PRECAUTIONS FOR SYMPOSIUM:
Some experts suggest three conditions for the use in
symposium technique:

Firstly, moderator should be sure to prepare the

speakers or see that they are prepared. They should
know the rules of procedure, sequence of speaking, and
way in which the forum will be conducted: and they
should be aware of the ideas, and background of the other
performers. Like panellist, they might benefit from a
brief warm up.
Secondly, the chairman or two ever is responsible for
preparing the agendas, should not attempt to stack the
cards by omitting or ignoring vital phases of the problems
as he selects or delegates his speakers. It is not good to face
up to an inadvertent, misinterpretation or omission. To
distort or omit an important point of view deliberately is to
invite disaster and,

Thirdly, the chairman in all the forum situations must

plan very carefully for the questioning period that
follows the prepared speeches, unless he wishes to risk
boredom or bedlain.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SYMPOSIUM:

1. It provides the broad understanding of the topic or a problem.

2. The opportunity is provided to the listener to take decision
about the problem.
3. It is used for higher classes to specific themes and problems.
4. It develops the feeling of cooperation and adjustment.
5. The objective as synthesis and evaluation (creativity) are
achieved by employing the symposium technique.
6. It provides the different views of the topic of the symposium.
SCOPE FOR THE USE OF SYMPOSIUM:
The symposium technique is used to realize the higher cognitive and
affective objectives. The following are the main topics on which
symposium technique is used:
•Use of television for education.

•Scope of distance education in our education.

•Use of essay and objective types of tests.

•Semester system in education.

•Quality control of educational research.

•Use of microteaching in teacher education.

•Use of team teaching in the schools.

•Use of action research in classroom teaching.

•Scope of education technology in our education.

The nature of the topic should be such that the audience should be
interested in the theme.
ADVANTAGE OF SYMPOSIUM:
•It is suited to large groups or classes.

•This method can be frequently use to present broad topics for discussion
at convention and organization meetings.

•Organization is good because of the set speeches prepared before hand.

•Gives deeper insight into the topic.

•Directs the student’s continuous independent study.

•Lends itself to the teaching of clinical subjects.

•This method can be used in political meetings.

•Provides broader scope for general group discussion because of wider

coverage of the topic.

•Greater feedback and contribution from the audience because the topic is
presented from several point of views.
DISADVANTAGE OF SYMPOSIUM:
•Inadequate opportunity for all the students to participate actively.

•The speech is limited to 15 – 20 minutes.

•Limited audience participation.

•Questions and answers limited to 3 or 4 minutes.

•Possibility of overlapping of subjects.

•The method as such consumes lots of time in preparation and conduct of

symposium which delimits its utility as a method of teaching in schools
and colleges.
LIMITATIONS OF SYMPOSIUM TECHNIQUE:
•The chairman has no control over the speakers as they have full
freedom to prepare the theme for discussion. They can present any
aspect of theme of the problem.
•There is probability of repetition of the conduct because every
speaker prepare theme as a whole. The different aspects of theme
are not prepared separately. It creates difficulty of understanding to
the listeners.
•The different aspects of a theme are presented simultaneously.
Therefore the listeners are not able to understand the theme
correctly.
• The listeners remain passive in the symposium because they are
not given opportunities to seek clarification and put questions.

• The discussion and presentation of theme is not summarized at

the end. The participants take decision according to their own.
Hence mature person can make use of this technique.

• This technique is employed to achieve the higher objectives of

cognitive domains but affective objectives are not emphasized
properly
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