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Training Available
Information about this year's scheduled workshops and trainings can be found under “Events ”
Basic Training
Teacher education in facilitating the philosophical community of inquiry is provided by the Philosophy for Children Association of New Zealand. P4CNZ workshops are recognised and approved by the Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations. Workshops are suitable for both primary and secondary school teachers. Student teachers, philosophers, parents and other interested people are also welcome to attend.
P4CNZ usually offers a small number workshops every year, and P4C training is also offered through other organisations that provide continuing education for teachers.
In-service training can be arranged, for a minimum of ten teachers. For enquires about in-service training, email v.kovach@auckland.ac.nz
Programme
The two day workshop programme is designed to enable teachers to begin facilitating philosophical inquiry in the classroom. It contains a mix of experiential learning and practical pedagogy. There are four sessions in which participants are involved in a "community of inquiry" in the same way that their students would be. This serves to model a variety of processes and to introduce a range of stimulus materials. Practical pedagogy sessions will cover the following topics: the nature of the community of inquiry, the role of the facilitator, questioning techniques for developing philosophical skills and making inquiry more rigorous, using exercises and discussion plans, keeping the discussion philosophical, planning and evaluating sessions and a survey of available resources.
Facilitator
The lead facilitator for the workshops is Dr Vanya Kovach, who may be assisted by newly qualified P4C teacher educators. Vanya has been training teachers, and P4C teacher educators, in New Zealand and Australia, since 1996. She holds a full certifcation as a teacher educator from the Federation of Australasian Philosophy in Schools Associations, has a PhD in Philosophy, and has had considerable experiecne in the classroom with students of all ages. She teaches part time in the Philosophy Department of the University of Auckland, and is an active philosopher in the community.
Certification
No certificate is given by P4CNZ for attendance at a basic training workshop. Participants who wish to may gain a certificate as a P4C facilitator, which is recognised throughout Australasia, by a) attending this workshop, then b) conducting and documenting 10 sessions with a class, and c) undergoing an observation and feedback process with an experienced facilitator. The fee for observation is $100.
Further Training in P4C
One day “Enhancing Facilitation” workshops are also offered periodically and three day Advanced workshops are run when there is sufficent demand.
Experienced faciliators of philosophcial inquiry in the classroom can train as a Teacher Educator in P4C. Workshops are available every year in Australia, and one is planned for New Zealand in 2012.
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