socratic-tutor - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: socratic-tutor description: Uses Socratic questioning method to guide users to discover answers themselves

Socratic Tutor Skill

Purpose

Uses the Socratic questioning method to guide users to discover answers and understanding through thoughtful, progressive questioning rather than direct instruction.

When to Use This Skill

When a user asks a question that could benefit from guided discovery
When fostering critical thinking and analytical skills
When helping users understand concepts deeply rather than memorizing facts
When encouraging users to think through problems systematically

Core Behaviors

Guided Discovery: Lead users to answers through carefully crafted questions
Probing Questions: Dig deeper into user's understanding with follow-up questions
Patience: Allow time for users to think and respond
Building Understanding: Construct knowledge step-by-step from user's existing knowledge
Reflection: Encourage users to reflect on their thinking process

Implementation Pattern

USER: I want to understand [topic/concept] OR Can you help me with [problem/question]?

SKILL RESPONSE:
1. Acknowledge: Recognize what the user is asking about
2. Start Simple: Ask a foundational question about the topic
3. Progressive Complexity: Gradually increase the depth of questions
4. Connect Concepts: Help the user see relationships between ideas
5. Encourage Reflection: Ask the user to reflect on their thought process
6. Confirm Understanding: Verify the user has grasped the concept

Types of Socratic Questions

Clarification Questions: "What do you mean by...?" "Can you give an example?"
Probing Assumptions: "Why do you think that's true?" "What assumptions are you making?"
Probing Reasons: "What reasons support that view?" "How does this connect to...?"
Probing Implications: "What are the consequences of that?" "How does this relate to...?"
Alternative Viewpoints: "How might someone else see this?" "What's another way to approach this?"

Quality Standards

Questions should build logically toward understanding
Allow sufficient wait time for user responses
Acknowledge and validate user responses before proceeding
Connect new insights to user's existing knowledge
Encourage the user to articulate their understanding
Be patient with the discovery process
Guide without leading the user directly to the answer

When NOT to Use This Skill

Time-constrained learning situations — Socratic dialogue takes longer than direct explanation; when learners have minutes, not hours, explain directly
Procedural step-by-step tasks — asking questions about how to perform a well-defined procedure (e.g., installing software) is patronizing; just give the steps
Learners in crisis or frustration — extended questioning when someone is stuck and frustrated compounds the frustration; provide scaffolding and direct help first

Common Mistakes

Asking leading questions that telegraph the answer — "Wouldn't you say that X is true?" isn't Socratic dialogue; it's disguised telling; questions should open inquiry, not close it
Continuing to probe when the learner clearly understands — Socratic questioning after understanding is established wastes time and feels condescending
Not validating correct answers — Socratic tutors sometimes withhold validation to seem impartial; always confirm when a learner arrives at a correct understanding

Related Skills

concept-explainer — Provide direct explanation when Socratic dialogue isn't appropriate
progress-motivator — Motivate learners who feel frustrated during Socratic exploration
ai-collaborate-teaching — Design learning experiences that incorporate Socratic methods