Using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms: insights from educators' collaborative reflections

This article explores the role of Philosophy for Children (P4C) pedagogy in higher education tutors’ facilitation of discussion-based learning (DBL). To reflect on their use of P4C, six teacher education tutors who taught on a first-year professional learning module took part in a professional deve...

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Main Authors: Fufy Demissie, Jane Stacey, Kathy Baillie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE) 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1389
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author Fufy Demissie
Jane Stacey
Kathy Baillie
author_facet Fufy Demissie
Jane Stacey
Kathy Baillie
author_sort Fufy Demissie
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the role of Philosophy for Children (P4C) pedagogy in higher education tutors’ facilitation of discussion-based learning (DBL). To reflect on their use of P4C, six teacher education tutors who taught on a first-year professional learning module took part in a professional development activity. Questionnaire and group discussion data from three participants were analysed using the ‘Discipline of Noticing’ approach. Key themes in the tutors’ reflections included the social and emotional dimensions of DBL, questioning strategies, and expectations of students’ capabilities. The findings highlight the complexities of embedding high-quality DBL in higher education and demonstrate how P4C can be a powerful tool for noticing, reflecting on, and evaluating discussion facilitation strategies.
format Article
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publisher Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)
record_format Article
series Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
spelling doaj-art-9453425ca60744ccb111cf4e7936e85d2025-08-20T03:45:15ZengAssociation for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education1759-667X2025-06-013610.47408/jldhe.vi36.1389Using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms: insights from educators' collaborative reflectionsFufy Demissie0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2325-4313Jane Stacey1https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4231-6033Kathy Baillie2https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8282-2326Sheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam University This article explores the role of Philosophy for Children (P4C) pedagogy in higher education tutors’ facilitation of discussion-based learning (DBL). To reflect on their use of P4C, six teacher education tutors who taught on a first-year professional learning module took part in a professional development activity. Questionnaire and group discussion data from three participants were analysed using the ‘Discipline of Noticing’ approach. Key themes in the tutors’ reflections included the social and emotional dimensions of DBL, questioning strategies, and expectations of students’ capabilities. The findings highlight the complexities of embedding high-quality DBL in higher education and demonstrate how P4C can be a powerful tool for noticing, reflecting on, and evaluating discussion facilitation strategies. https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1389discussion-based learningfacilitationphilosophy for childrenprofessional developmentteacher education
spellingShingle Fufy Demissie
Jane Stacey
Kathy Baillie
Using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms: insights from educators' collaborative reflections
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
discussion-based learning
facilitation
philosophy for children
professional development
teacher education
title Using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms: insights from educators' collaborative reflections
title_full Using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms: insights from educators' collaborative reflections
title_fullStr Using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms: insights from educators' collaborative reflections
title_full_unstemmed Using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms: insights from educators' collaborative reflections
title_short Using the Philosophy for Children (P4C) approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms: insights from educators' collaborative reflections
title_sort using the philosophy for children p4c approach to facilitate discussions in higher education classrooms insights from educators collaborative reflections
topic discussion-based learning
facilitation
philosophy for children
professional development
teacher education
url https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1389
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AT kathybaillie usingthephilosophyforchildrenp4capproachtofacilitatediscussionsinhighereducationclassroomsinsightsfromeducatorscollaborativereflections