A typical session includes a stimulus such
as a story, photo, artefact or an outdoor
learning activity. Participants generate
philosophical questions and one is chosen
as the main focus of enquiry by the group.
The enquiry is guided by a facilitator, whose
role is crucial in encouraging dialogue that
is collaborative, caring, critical and creative.
At the IOL conference in October 2010, I ran a
workshop where participants were introduced
to the P4C methodology. In order to experience
the methodology participants were asked to
generate philosophical questions in response
to a short story called Raven Rock. This is a
story about a boy who is asked by his teacher
to recall a place that is special to him and in
doing so recaptures a previous experience of
climbing a rock wall that had pushed him to his
physical and emotional limits. Not forgetting
the constant voice of his mother in his head
reminding him to be careful...