Course syllabus

 

Subject and Catalogue Number: Course Name

SEMESTER 2, 2019

15 points

 
Course Convenor and Teacher: Dr Vanya Kovach

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Revsied PHIL 301 Course outline 2019.docx

Revsied Again PHIL 301 Course outline 2019-1.docx

Classroom Observations- Timetable and Guide.docx

 

Summary of Course Description:

PHIL 301 provides a unique opportunity to learn to use your philosophical skills and knowledge in a community context. It will be of interest to those who want philosophy to have practical application, those who are keen to gain skills in facilitating thinking of others, and those who may be interested in teaching as a career.

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

This is an experiential course and attendance at class is essential.  There will be no recordings made, and it will not be possible to succeed in the course through reading only.  The processes you will experience and learn from are engaging and enjoyable, and require the participation of all class members.

 

Background: 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 predetermined 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.

 

 

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 in philosophical communities of inquiry
• Use and reflect upon a range of stimulus and support materials for philosophical inquiry
• Become familiar with 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
• Become familiar with commonly used processes for evaluating communities of inquiry

 

Class limits for 2019 and application process

Enrollment is limited to 10 students.  Students must meet all statutory and regulatory criteria for working with children (Note that the host school does not require that you complete a police clearance).

Selection criteria: Students will be selected on the basis of: 1. Experience in working with children or suitability for working with children, as demonstrated in a written application and an interview 2. Breadth of philosophical background 3. Commitment to philosophical practice in the community, as demonstrated in a written application and an interview. 3. GPA of at least B in philosophy courses.

You must apply to be admitted to this course, through a written application and interview.  There will be a deadline for applications, (late in Semester One, exact date to be announced) after which you will be notified that you can enroll, or that your enrollment has been approved (if you have already enrolled using the usual procedure).  No student will be admitted to the course without undergoing the application process.

PHIL 301 Criteria, Application and Interview.docx

 

Course delivery format:

2 hour meeting each week, including one hour of participation in a community of inquiry plus 1 hour of tutorial each week

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

     

 Assessment Summary:

• Creation of two sets of classroom resources, each supported by an essay explaining the connection to the relevant philosophical issues. 2x2000 words. 70%
• Assessment of Classroom Practice. You will be observed conducting three philosophical communities of inquiry facilitated in primary classrooms. 30%

 

Weekly Topics:

 

 

Prescribed Texts:

There are no prescribed texts

 

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.