Empowering Socratic Teaching Through Large Language Models: New Opportunities and Challenges in Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Abstract

This paper explores the necessity and potential of empowering Socratic teaching by large language models in intelligent tutoring systems to enable adaptive conversations and facilitate deeper engagement. Using Socratic Playground for Learning as an example, this paper presents the system's architecture and functionality of two components: lesson creation and Socratic interaction. In addition, the paper highlights the key opportunities, including the scalability and accessibility of personalized Socratic teaching, the ability to maintain learning engagement and motivation, the capability to enable learning as a service and lifelong learning, the promotion of cross-cultural understanding, and support for cultural heritage preservation. Furthermore, this paper discusses the challenges that need to be addressed for effective implementation, such as technological limitations, user readiness and acceptance, assessment transparency and rationality, ethical concerns, and adaptability to different cultures. This paper aims to offer valuable insights into the development and rational application of Socratic teaching and large language model-based intelligent tutoring systems in the era of artificial intelligence.