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Course

Philosophy For Children (P4C)

Course Description

Philosophy for Children (P4C) is an educational approach that encourages children to develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills through engaging in philosophical dialogue and discussion. The goal of P4C is to help children develop the ability to think independently, ask thoughtful questions, and consider multiple perspectives. P4C sessions are typically facilitated by a teacher or trained facilitator, who presents a stimulus, such as a story, poem, or image, and then leads the class in a discussion about the philosophical questions and ideas that the stimulus raises. The facilitator encourages children to express their own thoughts and ideas, and to consider the perspectives of others.

P4C has been used in a variety of educational settings, including primary and secondary schools, and has been shown to have a positive impact on children’s critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. Additionally, P4C has been shown to promote curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning in children. P4C is suitable for children of all ages and can be adapted to different subject areas and curriculum goals. It can be used to supplement existing curriculum or as a stand-alone program. It can also be implemented in a variety of settings, including classrooms, after-school programs, and summer camps. In summary, P4C is a powerful educational method that can help children to develop a wide range of important skills and dispositions that will serve them well in school and in life. This training course for educators would focus on teaching the skills and techniques necessary for facilitating P4C sessions effectively.

Learning Outcomes

Successful graduates of the course will have the knowledge and skills to do the following:

  • Understand the principles and practices of P4C and how to implement it in the classroom
  • Develop the ability to plan and facilitate P4C sessions effectively
  • Gain hands-on experience with P4C activities and discussions
  • Learn how to assess student learning and progress in P4C
  • Develop skills in integrating P4C into teaching practice
  • Reflect on personal teaching practice and identify areas for improvement
  • Create a network of support with other educators who are also implementing P4C in their classrooms
  • Understand how to use technology to enhance P4C in the classroom
  • Develop the ability to think critically through the implementation of P4C
  • Enhance the understanding of diverse perspectives and cultures in the classroom through P4C
  • Develop the ability to support social-emotional learning and character education through P4C

Course Details

 
TARGET GROUP

Professionals in the education sector (e.g., teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and administrators at elementary, middle, higher education, vocational institutions, kindergartens and pre-primary schools) and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology for a P4C training course for educators would involve several key components. Participants will first receive an overview of the basic principles and practices of P4C, including the Socratic method, the community of inquiry, and the role of questioning in fostering critical thinking and problem-solving. Next, participants will engage in hands-on P4C activities and discussions, allowing them to experience the method firsthand and see its potential impact on students. Participants will also learn about how to integrate P4C into their own teaching practice, including strategies for planning and facilitating P4C sessions, and how to assess student learning and progress. Throughout the course, there will be opportunities for participants to reflect on their own teaching practice, share their experiences with other educators, and receive feedback and guidance from instructors. The course will also provide resources and materials that can be used to implement P4C in the classroom, such as lesson plans and activity ideas. The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures, group discussions, and hands-on activities and will be interactive and participatory in nature.

Course Objectives

  • Introduction to P4C: Introduce the fundamental concepts, principles, and history of the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach.
  • Critical Thinking Skills: Learn how to develop critical thinking skills in children through P4C.
  • Creating Philosophical Questions: Learn to create philosophical questions that encourage children to think.
  • Inquiry-Based Dialogue: Develop children’s thinking and questioning skills through inquiry-based dialogue methods within P4C.
  • Introduction to Philosophical Concepts: Introduce basic philosophical concepts to support children’s intellectual development.
  • Values and Moral Education: Encourage thinking about values and moral concepts through P4C.
  • Attentive Listening and Respectful Communication: Emphasize the importance of attentive listening to children and instill respectful communication skills.
  • Openness to Different Perspectives: Teach openness to different thoughts and perspectives and how to evaluate these perspectives.
  • Creative Thinking: Introduce activities and methods that support creative thinking skills.
  • Social Responsibility and Ethics: Introduce children to concepts of social responsibility and ethics, and encourage thinking about these concepts.
  • Application of P4C in Education: Examine how P4C methods can be applied in various educational environments.
  • Assessment and Evaluation: Understand methods for assessing and evaluating P4C processes and outcomes.

Tentative Schedule

Day 1 – ARRIVAL DAY

  • Welcoming activities
  • Networking activities
  • Introduction to the basic concepts and principles of P4C
  • The history and development of P4C
  • P4C activities to experience the approach firsthand

Day 2 – PLANNING AND FACILITATING P4C SESSIONS

  • How to plan and facilitate P4C sessions effectively
  • Facilitating P4C sessions in small groups
  • Reflection and feedback on facilitation skills
  • Branches of philosophy
  • Art/Music (Aesthetics)
  • Citizenship (Political Philosophy)
  • Identity (Philosophy of Mind)

Day 3 – HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH P4C ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSIONS

  • Various P4C activities and discussions
  • Assessing student learning and progress in P4C
  • Facilitating P4C activities and discussions with peers
  • Role-playing exercises, group activities and case studies of successful P4C discussions in the classroom

Day 4 – INTEGRATING P4C INTO TEACHING PRACTICE

  • Personal teaching practice and identify areas for improvement
  • Small group discussions to share strategies and challenges
  • Modelling of a philosophical enquiry or curriculum enquiry sessions
  • How to form philosophical questions?
  • Forming philosophical questions (in-class application)
  • Curriculum mapping exercises, brainstorming sessions, and examples of P4C activities that can be used in various subject areas

Day 5 – USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE P4C

  • Online discussion forums, virtual reality simulations and digital storytelling tools
  • The If Machine
  • Digital literacy applications
  • UNESCO Digital Library

Day 6 – PHYSICAL/OUTDOOR EDUCATIONPSHE

  • Reality (Metaphysics)
  • Reasoning (Logic)
  • Religious Ed (Philosophy of Religion)
  • Science
  • Values/Character Education (Ethics)

 Day 7 – DEPARTURE DAY

  • Course evaluation, feedback, discussion and wrap-up
  • Certificate ceremony
  • Cultural activities

*The schedule describes likely activities but may differ significantly based on the requests of the participants, and the trainer delivering the specific session. Course modifications are subject to the trainer’s discretion. If you would like to discuss a specific topic, please indicate it at least 4 weeks in advance.

Our courses usually include two cultural activities. Further information is available on the webpage of each course.

Duration 1 - 2 weeks
Price 80.00

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