Welcome
"Teaching and Learning High School Philosophy in Ontario High Schools," a multi-year project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, builds on an earlier pilot project studying high school philosophy in Ontario. Ontario leads the English-speaking world as the only educational jurisdiction to offer officially recognized courses in philosophy in high school at the grade 11 and 12 level. Since its inception in 1998 philosophy has proven to be a popular high school course and now enrolls over 35,000 students annually in the Province. The fact that the Ministry of Education has recently classified philosophy a "teachable" subject also opens the door for Faculties of Education to instruct pre-service and in-service teachers in teaching philosophy. With growing student demand and the likelihood of a growing teacher supply, philosophy in the high schools seems poised for continued growth as an elective subject in the high school curriculum.
This research involves a critical examination of the methods, practices, and key issues surrounding teaching and learning high school philosophy in Ontario. Based on observations of philosophy classrooms, interviews with philosophy teachers, and focus groups with philosophy students, this research contributes to understanding what occurs in Ontario's high school philosophy classes, and what effects those classes have on students and teachers, thereby advancing knowledge about teaching and learning philosophy--and philosophy itself.
This research involves a critical examination of the methods, practices, and key issues surrounding teaching and learning high school philosophy in Ontario. Based on observations of philosophy classrooms, interviews with philosophy teachers, and focus groups with philosophy students, this research contributes to understanding what occurs in Ontario's high school philosophy classes, and what effects those classes have on students and teachers, thereby advancing knowledge about teaching and learning philosophy--and philosophy itself.
Meet the Researchers
Our research team, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Trevor Norris of Brock University, represents three Ontario Universities. Please click the button below to meet the researchers.
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Project Objectives(1) to explore how philosophy teachers interpret and experience the teaching of philosophy;
(2) to explore how studying philosophy impacts students; and (3) to examine dynamics within the philosophy classroom as they relate to objectives (1) and (2). |