teaching
TagMaking the Abundance of Philosophy on Video More Usable
An effort is underway to curate the vast number of philosophy videos that can be found on YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, and elsewhere on the web. (more…)
Free Software for Advanced Logic Courses
Students nowadays might struggle in more advanced logic courses not just because the material is difficult, but because they’re used to learning logic with software, which is commonly used in introductory courses, but less so in higher-level ones. (more…)
The Value of Stepping Back from Current Events
It’s not unusual for philosophy professors to think it’s important to demonstrate to their students the relevance of course material to current events, both because of the importance of those events and also to maintain student interest. But there may be value in keeping a distance from today’s news and issues. (more…)
Logic Course Breaks University of Sydney Enrollment Record — Or It Doesn’t
Over 2200 students at the University of Sydney are currently enrolled in “Philosophy 1012: Introduction to Logic,” setting a university-wide record for highest enrollment in any course the university has ever offered. (more…)
Are We Serious About Critical Thinking?
In 1979 philosopher Douglas Stalker (University of Delaware, now retired) adopted the stage persona Captain Ray of Light, a pseudo-science hawking speaker whose humorous presentations educated his audience about pseudo-science and poor thinking. (more…)
University to Faculty Concerned about Covid: “Beg”
“We are discouraged from “sharing Covid data that is not related to the course.” Presumably, nattering on about the state’s overburdened hospitals, worn-down physicians, and increasing death counts might constitute “pressure,” and faculty “should not pressure students to get vaccinated or wear a mask.” The most we can do is “encourage.” In practice, these guidelines..
Academic Freedom & COVID-Related Topics
How are universities regulating how faculty may discuss COVID-related topics such as mask wearing and vaccinations with students? (more…)
Philosophy Labs: Some Recommendations (guest post)
The “lonely-armchair methodology” is one way of approaching philosophy, but it’s not the only way. (more…)
Brennan Wins $2.1 Million Grant to Study Markets, Social Entrepreneurship, & Altruism
Jason Brennan, the Robert J. and Elizabeth Flanagan Family Term Professor of Strategy, Economics, Ethics, and Public Policy at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, has been awarded a $2.1 million grant by the John Templeton Foundation. (more…)
What Video Games to Play in a Philosophy Classroom? (guest post)
“Video games and various scenarios they present can help us not only to better explain and understand philosophical issues and thought experiments, but more importantly, they allow us — although in a limited sense — to experience them as well.” (more…)
Choice Student Comments on Your Philosophy Courses
Student evaluations of teaching have their problems and limitations, but if they allow for comments, at least there’s a chance that you’ll come across a helpful observation, a bit of appreciative praise, an amusing insult, or even potential advertising copy for your course. (more…)
Some Results from the Teaching Philosophy Online Survey
Recently, Thomas Nadelhoffer (Charleston) conducted a survey of those who had taught philosophy courses online over the past year. What did he learn? (more…)
Three of Wesleyan’s Graduating Philosophy Majors Earned Their Degrees While In Prison
This month, the first group of seven incarcerated men will be graduating from a recently created program at Wesleyan University with their Bachelor’s degrees. Three of them—Michael Braham, Clyde Meikle, and Andre Pierce—will be graduating as philosophy majors. (more…)
Teaching Philosophy Online: A Survey
The COVID-19 pandemic has given us a lot of experience with online teaching. What lessons are to be learned from it for online teaching in the future? (more…)
Unconventional Readings in Undergraduate Philosophy Courses
Plato? Check. Descartes? Check. Hume? Check…. (more…)
Philosophy for Kids Is not Math for Kids or Reading for Kids
In 2015, a small study purported to show that teaching elementary school students philosophy improved their math and reading skills. The following year, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) funded a large-scale study of the effects of teaching philosophy to young children. The results of that study have now been announced. (more…)
Ethics Case Studies Collection Continues to Grow
Looking for free, concise, and current ethics case studies? (more…)
The High Production Quality/Low Cost Future of Philosophy Education?
Here are three trends in higher education: (more…)
Teaching Philosophy as a Way of Life (guest post)
The following is a guest post* by Stephen Angle, Steven Horst, and Tushar Irani, philosophy professors at Wesleyan University, about their team-taught course, “Living a Good Life” which was featured in The New York Times earlier this year, and about the idea of teaching “philosophy as a way of life.” (more…)
From Maps to Apps: Introducing Students to Argument-Mapping (guest post)
In the following guest post*, Chad Mohler, professor of philosophy at Truman State University, describes a cool new argument-mapping app he has created and shares a special offer with Daily Nous readers. (more…)
We Still Have Work To Do
Joseph Biden has defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. (more…)
Counting Participation in the Philosophy Classroom
Do you grade your students on their in-class participation? How do you do it? (more…)
Florida to Allow Philosophy Majors to Teach Social Sciences in Public Schools
The Florida Department of Education has proposed amending a rule governing what kinds of degrees people who teach social science classes in the state’s public schools must have. (more…)
Tenured & Tenure-Track Profs: Take the Summer Off from Teaching (guest post by Ted Shear)
In the following guest post*, Ted Shear, lecturer in philosophy at the University of Colorado, Boulder, suggests a way that those with secure positions in academia can help out their more vulnerable colleagues during this time of increased economic insecurity. (more…)
Assessment, ‘Rich Knowledge’, and Philosophy
“Teachers learn to maximise pupil performances considered desirable by examiners regardless of whether such performances manifest the understanding needed for the use and application of knowledge in contexts other than test conditions.” (more…)
Closer to Truth & Philosophers (guest post by Robert Lawrence Kuhn) (updated)
“Philosophy has novel opportunities to expand its share of the contemporary zeitgeist…” (more…)
The Stand-Alone Philosophy Minor
At some schools, there’s no philosophy major, just a philosophy minor. What should it be like? (more…)
Tips for Teaching Online Synchronous Courses
Many of us will be teaching online synchronous courses this term, and some of us have already begun. What have you learned about doing so that you think others might benefit from knowing? And what do you want to know about it? (more…)