Think Again
A Philosophical Approach to Teaching
Published on 28. June 2012
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-1-4411-2106-6 (ISBN)
Description
"Think Again" offers practical guidance on how philosophy can liberate and revitalize teaching and learning by creating space for independent, critical thinking. Contemporary education is held captive by an obsession with assessment. The culture of 'teaching-to-the-test' and 'spoon-feeding' has distorted the purpose of teaching and destroyed the joy of free enquiry. This book offers practical advice on how to use philosophy as the cornerstone of a new approach to teaching and learning, with the central aim of developing students' capacity for deeper, freer thought. Drawing on his experience of innovative curriculum development work, the author explains how philosophical questions provide an excellent vehicle for engaging students and drawing them into analytical, creative and independent ways of thinking. "Think Again" provides: activities for encouraging critical and creative thinking; examples of 'entry points' for integrating philosophy in a formal curriculum; and, practical guidance on using philosophy to enliven learning in a range of subjects.
The author emphasizes the significant opportunity that project work provides for enabling students to develop their research and analytical skills, and suggests how the 13+ curriculum could be developed to bring a philosophical dimension to learning in all subject areas.
The author emphasizes the significant opportunity that project work provides for enabling students to develop their research and analytical skills, and suggests how the 13+ curriculum could be developed to bring a philosophical dimension to learning in all subject areas.
Reviews / Votes
'John L. Taylor's approach to bringing more philosophy into the classroom is exemplary. He understands that philosophy should not be an optional or even compulsory bolt-on, but deeply entrenched in the teaching of a subject, and with his long experience, he knows exactly how to do this.' Julian Baggini, writer, journalist and co-founder of The Philosophers' Magazine 'John L. Taylor in Think Again throws down a challenge to policy makers, school leaders and individual teachers as well as parents to reflect again on the vision of the 'liberal education tradition' and to articulate clearly what we want and what is needed from education in our time. Think Again alerts us to how the Standards Agenda in education has led to teachers, particularly in the secondary school, concentrating too closely on preparing for the test and to students expecting only that preparation from their teachers. Think Again gives us an opportunity to reconsider the vocation of the teacher as well as the task of the student and frames that in practical terms relevant for everyone with an interest in education today.' Patricia Hannam, County Inspector/Adviser for RE and History, Hampshire, UKMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 169 mm
Weight
456 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-2106-6 (9781441121066)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2012
1st Edition
Continuum Publishing Corporation
€23.99
Available for download
Person
A.C. Grayling is Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. He has written and edited numerous works of philosophy and is the author of biographies of Descartes and William Hazlitt. John Taylor is Head of Philosophy and Director of Critical Skills at Rugby School. Before taking up his post at Rugby he tutored in the Philosophy of Science at Oxford University. Since 1999 he has directed the "Perspectives on Science" (PoS) project. Dr Taylor is also a Chief Examiner for the Extended Project.
Content
Preface; Foreword by A.C. Grayling; Introduction: The over-examined life; 1. Encouraging Self-Sufficiency: How to liberate learners through philosophy; 2. Socratic Mentoring: A guide to philosophical approaches to learning; 3. Practically Speaking: How to integrate philosophical perspectives into existing curricula; 4. Re-unifying the Curriculum: Encouraging students to think more philosophically about - science, history, religious studies, English, psychology, economics, and art and design; 5. Assessment Re-Assessed: An education-driven assessment model; 6. Philosophically Speaking: The future; Index.