Abstract

BURDICK-SHEPHERD, stephanie a  and  CAMMARANO, cristina. philosophy for children goes to college: transformative changes in philosophical thinking when college students practice philosophizing with young children. child.philo [online]. 2017, vol.13, n.27, pp.235-251. ISSN 1984-5987.  https://doi.org/10.12957/childphilo.2017.26804.

The following essay presents faculty reflections on field experiences required for students in an introductory Philosophy of Education course. The essay is a reflective tracing on the becoming of philosophical thinking that occurs when college students spend a significant time philosophizing with younger students at local elementary sites using community of inquiry methodology. In introductory philosophy courses students are being introduced to the array of philosophical positions in education, but more importantly, they are also learning ways of thinking philosophically about issues in education. The question is how to best foster the growth of philosophical thinking in the limited weeks of a college semester with a diverse group of students. The theoretical framework for this project is informed from research on community of inquiry evidenced in the work of Matthew Lipman and Ann Sharp and research on philosophy of childhood by David Kennedy. Deborah Britzman's work on practice offers an idea of development that formulated the focus of our inquiry methodology. The authors find that communities of inquiry where adults and children interact offers additional layers of epistemology and ontology upon which to question and reflect. As college level students begin to see themselves as community members with children, conceptions of both what it means to be a philosophical thinker as well as what it means to do philosophy begin to change. There is important study opportunity for collegiate faculty to show how dialogue with children can work to transform courses in philosophy and education.

Keywords : Childhood; Reflective Practice; College; Philosophy For Children; Community Of Inquiry.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in English     · English ( pdf )