Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools

In the past decade well-designed research studies have shown that the practice of collaborative philosophical inquiry in schools can have marked cognitive and social benefits. Student academic performance improves, and so too does the social dimension of schooling. These findings are timely, as many...

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Main Authors: Millett, Stephan, Tapper, Alan
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Publishing 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17007
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author Millett, Stephan
Tapper, Alan
author_facet Millett, Stephan
Tapper, Alan
author_sort Millett, Stephan
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description In the past decade well-designed research studies have shown that the practice of collaborative philosophical inquiry in schools can have marked cognitive and social benefits. Student academic performance improves, and so too does the social dimension of schooling. These findings are timely, as many countries in Asia and the Pacific are now contemplating introducing Philosophy into their curricula. This paper gives a brief history of collaborative philosophical inquiry before surveying the evidence as to its effectiveness. The evidence is canvassed under two categories: schooling and thinking skills; and schooling, socialisation and values. In both categories there is clear evidence that even short-term teaching of collaborative philosophical inquiry has marked positive effects on students. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research and a final claim that the presently-available research evidence is strong enough to warrant implementing collaborative philosophical inquiry as part of a long-term policy.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-170072017-09-13T15:42:44Z Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools Millett, Stephan Tapper, Alan communities of inquiry collaborative philosophical inquiry thinking skills philosophy for children philosophy in schools engagement In the past decade well-designed research studies have shown that the practice of collaborative philosophical inquiry in schools can have marked cognitive and social benefits. Student academic performance improves, and so too does the social dimension of schooling. These findings are timely, as many countries in Asia and the Pacific are now contemplating introducing Philosophy into their curricula. This paper gives a brief history of collaborative philosophical inquiry before surveying the evidence as to its effectiveness. The evidence is canvassed under two categories: schooling and thinking skills; and schooling, socialisation and values. In both categories there is clear evidence that even short-term teaching of collaborative philosophical inquiry has marked positive effects on students. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research and a final claim that the presently-available research evidence is strong enough to warrant implementing collaborative philosophical inquiry as part of a long-term policy. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17007 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2010.00727.x Blackwell Publishing restricted
spellingShingle communities of inquiry
collaborative philosophical inquiry
thinking skills
philosophy for children
philosophy in schools
engagement
Millett, Stephan
Tapper, Alan
Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools
title Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools
title_full Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools
title_fullStr Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools
title_full_unstemmed Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools
title_short Benefits of Collaborative Philosophical Inquiry in Schools
title_sort benefits of collaborative philosophical inquiry in schools
topic communities of inquiry
collaborative philosophical inquiry
thinking skills
philosophy for children
philosophy in schools
engagement
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17007