thumb|300px|An instructor discussing women's involvement in [[Bengali Wikipedia in a seminar in Dhaka in 2015]]
A seminar is a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is requested to participate. This is often accomplished through an ongoing Socratic dialogue with a seminar leader or instructor, or through a more formal presentation of research. It is essentially a place where assigned readings are discussed, questions can be raised and debates can be conducted.
Etymology
The word seminar was borrowed from German (in which it is capitalized as ), and is ultimately derived from the Latin word , meaning 'seed plot' (an old-fashioned term for 'seedbed'). Its root word is (Latin for 'seed').
In North Indian universities, the term "seminar" refers to a course of intense study relating to the student's major. Seminars typically have significantly fewer students per professor than normal courses, and are generally more specific in topic of study. Seminars can revolve around term papers, exams, presentations, and several other assignments. Seminars are almost always required for university graduation. Normally, participants must not be beginners in the field under discussion at US and Canadian universities. Seminar classes are generally reserved for upper-class students, although at UK and Australian universities seminars are often used for all years. The idea behind the seminar system is to familiarize students more extensively with the methodology of their chosen subject and also to allow them to interact with examples of the practical problems that always occur during research work.
Seminar rooms
"Seminar room" is often used as a name for a generic group study or work space at a library. Some seminar rooms are more tailored to a specific topic or field, literally a space designed for a seminar course or individualized self-study to occur.
See also
- Academic conference
- French mathematical seminars
- Plenary session
- Poster session
- Senior seminar, aka Capstone course or final year course
- Symposium (academic)
- Webinar (a seminar attended through the Internet)
- Jesus Seminar, a group of 50 biblical criticism scholars and 100 laymen