Sydney Philosothon 2024
Event description
The Sydney Philosothon, an annual inter-school event running since 2009, presents a collaborative opportunity for students who are well-versed in engaging in philosophical discussions known as Communities of Inquiry. By engaging in philosophical inquiry with peers, students will enhance their critical thinking skills, employ their capacity for reasoned argumentation, and broaden their understanding of diverse perspectives.
The Sydney Philosothon is open to all and free of charge to member schools of the Association of Philosophy in Schools NSW. We thank the previous schools who have hosted this event: Ascham, Cranbrook, St Andrew’s Cathedral School and North Sydney Girls.
This event grows each year, as does the number of trained facilitators using this pedagogy in NSW classrooms.
In 2024, schools may enter one or more teams consisting of four students: aged 14, 15, 16 and open. In order to provide a robust judging panel (to ensure a successful and fulfilling experience for all students), each school team must be accompanied by a PinS NSW-certified facilitator who has undertaken benchmarking training.
Professional Learning for Facilitation:
-The two day workshop "Introduction to Philosophical Community of Inquiry Workshop" is run several times each year: https://events.humanitix.com/introduction-to-philosophical-community-of-inquiry-workshop
- From 2024, we require that each returning teacher join our judging panel to co-judge the circles of inquiry. Benchmarking training is available through the association two times in 2024. The first opportunity will be 22 March 2024. Members of the Association can gain access to discounted tickets to the March 22 workshop. Contact the association for your discount code and book here - Engaging Questions 2024: Assessment of Philosophical Community of Inquiry | Humanitix
The benchmarking course will be held another date evening date TBC, if required. Further details about evening version of the benchmarking course can be found here: https://www.philosophyinschool... This course has been judged to be fantastic PL to support the use of community of inquiry as part of formal assessment in the Stage 5 and Stage 6 Philosophy courses.
Stimulus material for the 2024 event is currently being developed and will be released in the Term 2 newsletter.
If you are interested to participate but don't meet the above criteria, please email the Association on philosophyinschoolsnsw@gmail.com