Course syllabus

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Lecturer Dr Vanya Kovach

v.kovach@auckland.ac.nz

Room 425 in Arts 1

Office hours: Wednesday 11 - 12 and 2 - 3, or by appointment

 

Course Description

This course provides a thorough practical grounding in facilitation of philosophical communities of inquiry, and in the construction of materials to stimulate philosophical inquiry. Opportunities for classroom practice in co-operating primary schools will be provided to participants who are not classroom-based.

Philosophy for Children is an internationally practiced educational programme that brings together critical thinking, dialogue about meaningful questions and the fostering of community.  International research has demonstrated the power of this programme in all of these areas for school students from 5 – 18 years old.  The central pedagogical tool is the “Community of Inquiry” in which students pose their own questions in response to a philosophically rich stimulus, and then work collaboratively to explore the question, and to propose, elaborate and evaluate a range of answers to it.  Reflection on process and content is an integral part of the endeavour. The task of the facilitator is to assist and extend the thinking in the community, without leading the group to any pre-determined conclusion, and to encourage collaboration, and a caring and respectful attitude to fellow inquirers. A wide range of high order thinking skills are developed through this programme.  School students find the process exciting, engaging and empowering, and also great fun.

In this course you will learn the skills of facilitating philosophical inquiry with children, and engage in numerous communities of inquiry yourself.  You will become familiar with a range of stimulus and support materials, and learn how to construct these for a stimulus of you choice (such as a picture book, news story, film clip etc.).  The course involves six hours of classroom contact with primary school children. You will be supported in your preparation for this contact time, and will also be supported by the classroom teacher, during class time.

 

The assessment:

  • Creation of two sets of classroom resources, each supported by an essay explaining the planned strategies for implementation, and the connection to the relevant philosophical issues. 2x2000 words. 70%
  • Assessment via video of a philosophical community of inquiry facilitated in primary classrooms. 30%

 

The learning outcomes.  Students will:

  • Become familiar with participation in, and reflection upon, philosophical communities of inquiry.
  • Understand and practice the role of the facilitator philosophical communities of inquiry.
  • Use and reflect upon a range of stimulus and support materials for philosophical inquiry.
  • Develop strategies for enhancing the quality of students’ philosophical questioning, their critical skills, and their reflective practice.
  • Create activities and discussion guides to support philosophical inquiry into concepts, questions and issues across the curriculum.
  • Consider and build upon commonly used processes for evaluating communities of inquiry and assessment of student progress.

 

 

Course Outline

 

Week

Wednesday 12 - 2

Thursday 4-5

1

Community of Inquiry (VK)

The Ideal of the Community of Inquiry. The Role of the Facilitator. The Pattern of Inquiry.

 

Discussion: Why do philosophy with children?

(Two readings)

2

Community of Inquiry (VK)

Developing skills - questioning and explicit skill building activities

 

Not at this time: Take home task - Surveying existing classroom materials, preparing observations to share

3

Community of Inquiry: Concept game (VK)

Sharing observations on existing materials. Activities and discussion plans, their role, uses, strengths and limitations

 

Skill building activities

4

Community of Inquiry: Picture book (VK)

Developing students’ ability to pose philosophical questions

 

Planning for facilitating a Community of Inquiry

5

Community of Inquiry (VK)

Selecting stimulus materials, identifying themes in stimulus materials. Bring a possible stimulus to share and explore

 

Students co-facilitate inquiry on a question from Wednesday's stimulus

6

Community of Inquiry (Student x 2)

Constructing simple activities and concept games

 

Constructing discussion plans

 

Mid semester Break

 

 

7

Community of Inquiry (Student x 2)

Reflection on observation

 

Not at this time: Classroom observation at school

 

8

Community of Inquiry (Student x 2)

Further reflection on observations

 

Not at this time: Classroom observation at school

 

9

Community of Inquiry (Student x 2)

Deeping the inquiry - simple strategies

 

Planning for school sessions+ closing a CoI

 

 

10

Community of Inquiry (VK)

 

Constructing skill building activities

 

Common challenges in CoI

 

11

Community of Inquiry (?)

Open session – topic to be chosen by class

 

Not at this time: Assessed classroom practice

 

12

Community of Inquiry (?)

Relativism, constructivism and/or pragmatism –which fits with P4C?

Not at this time: Assessed classroom practice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course summary:

Date Details Due