Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2109: Philosophy with Children

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

The aims of this module are:

a.) To provide you with an introduction to doing Philosophy with Children and how it is/ can be taught in primary schools
b.) To allow you to gain experience in schools delivering philosophy sessions to small groups of children

c.) To showcase the work you have been doing with the children at the Philosophize Conference
d.) To engage with the theory of Philosophy with Children, from its origins in philosophical pragmatism to more recent post- human theories, and consider the ways in which this impacts on practice
e.) To explore a range of Philosophy with Children techniques and literature

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate good knowledge of the teaching methods and theory of Philosophy with Children 2. Demonstrate that you can deliver engaging philosophy sessions to children in primary schools, using the Philosophize teaching resources provided 3. Evaluate the sessions and your role in facilitating them
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of philosophy in education, including the relationship between academic philosophy and Philosophy with Children in the context of the state education system 5. Assess the of the role of the facilitator in a Community of Philosophical Inquiry 6. draw out philosophical thinking from children in the Philosophize Conference and enable them to deliver a presentation of their ideas
Personal and Key Skills	7. Act in a professional manner when delivering sessions in schools, including relationships with teachers and children in the school 8. Engage with the teaching resources provided to understand the material before delivering sessions 9. Demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of the children in the group with which you are working 10. Show that you are organised, reliable and committed 11. Demonstrate you can work collaboratively with fellow students to co-deliver philosophy sessions in schools and at the Conference 12. Demonstrate a reflective attitude toward your practice, being able to comment on how and why working with children in schools can be challenging

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

This module has a significant practical component. Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will comprise the following elements:

Introduction to Philosophy with Children

Training session for Philosophize training resources

Deliver Philosophize sessions in schools

There will be 6 Philosophize practical sessions in schools. During the week of the school half-term holiday there will be no Philosophize session, instead there will be a seminar on the theory of Philosophy with Children

Philosophize Conference at the University – you will work with your children to deliver a 5 minute presentation

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
6	128	16

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	4	2 x 2 hour lectures/seminars with brief lecture introducing topic followed by seminar discussion
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	2	Training session for Philosophize teaching material
Placement	10	Delivering Philosophize sessions in schools
Placement	6	Philosophize Conference
Guided independent study	48	Researching and writing reflective essay
Guided independent study	40	Collaborating with partner to plan and prepare the Philosophize sessions and the Philosophize Conference
Guided independent study	40	Reading and watching videos of philosophy sessions to understand the theory and practice of Philosophy with Children

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkeEjZVaEqk (Granny and the Goldfish)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DLzXAjscXk (Sara Goering: Philosophy for Kids – Sparking a Love of Learning)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk_B32HtnWg&t=99s (UNSWTV – Philosophy for children)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV4ANiQkh3Q (Sara Stanley Philosophy for Children session)