Topic: Learning from Fellow Teachers
Location: Small Seminar Room
Thursday | 1 – 2 PM CST
Coordinator
Jabran Amanat-Lee
jamanat-lee2@huskers.unl.edu
Co-coordinator
Swarnima Kain
skain2@huskers.unl.edu
Faculty Advisor
Harry Ide
hide@unl.edu
Synopsis
Last semester, we focused on questions/topics that perhaps are important to anyone starting anew as a GTA. This semester, we will consider and discuss pedagogical insights from fellow philosophy teachers—i.e., folks who have thought about issues relevant to philosophy pedagogy seriously and have some helpful suggestions to make as a result of that. I have gathered some readings that are short, pleasant to read, and provide educated insight to help navigate issues relevant to the experience of philosophy teachers at the college level.
Spring 2025 Schedule
Jan 23: General Plan
- Cahn, M. S. (2008). “Chapter 8: Teaching.” From Student to Scholar: A Candid Guide to Becoming a Professor. Columbia University Press: 53-60.
Jan 30: What is a Teacher?
- Krishnamurti, J. “A teacher is deeply involved with the flowering of human beings.” www.jkrishnamurti.org
Feb 6: Effective Teaching
- Cahn, M. S. (2018). “Chapter Two: How Teachers Succeed.” Teaching Philosophy: A Guide. Routledge: 4-15.
- Bradner, A., and Andrew P. Mills. “Doing Philosophy as Teaching Philosophy.” The Philosophers’ Magazine: Online.
- Feb 13: Embodied Pedagogy (Online with Emily FitzGerald - Utah Tech)
- FitzGerald, E. (2024). “How to Practice Embodied Pedagogy.” Blog of the APA: Online.
- The two abstracts
Feb 20: Teaching and Career Success
- Siscoe, L. (2023). “Philosophy and Work: Helping Students Conceptualize Their Careers.” Blog of the APA: Online.
Feb 27: Teaching and Mindfulness
- Cahn, M. S. (2024). “A Question for Teachers.” Blog of the APA: Online.
- Cahn, M. S. (2018). “Chapter Three: A Teacher’s Concerns.” Teaching Philosophy: A Guide. Routledge: 16-22.
Mar 6: Teaching Reading Philosophy (Online with Connie Rosati - UT Austin)
- Rosati, C. “Some Suggestions for How to Approach Reading A Philosophical Article or Book.” From: www.philosophy.arizona.edu.
- Challenges of LLM and Open-AI
Mar 13: What is teaching philosophy?
- Kang, H. (2024). “What Am I ‘Really’ Doing While Teaching Philosophy.” Blog of the APA: Online.
- Woodruff, P. (2023). “Let’s Build More Happiness, Not Fear, Into the Classroom.” UTNEWS: Online.
Mar 16 - 22: Spring Break!
Mar 27: Teacher’s Responsibility
- Cahn, M. S. (2018). “Chapter One: A Teacher’s Responsibility.” Teaching Philosophy: A Guide. Routledge: 1-3.
Apr 3: Teaching Approaches
- Sadovsky, R. G. (2024). “Designing the Grade as a Target to Strive For.” Blog of the APA: Online.
- LaFore, G. (2024). “Asking Humanly Historical Questions in Philosophy Classrooms.” Blog of the APA: Online.
Apr 10: Role and More
- Cahn, M. S. (2018). “Chapter Six: A Teacher’s Role.” Teaching Philosophy: A Guide. Routledge: 37-40
- Marcus, R. (2017). “Teaching, Philosophy, and Repairing the World.” manuscript for Philosophers in the Classroom: Essays on Teaching. Edited by Steven Cahn, Alexandra Bradner, and Andrew Mills.
Apr 17: Teaching Writing Philosophy (Online with Sophie Horowitz – UMASS Amherst)
- Horowitz, S. (2024). “Writing in Philosophy.” Blog of the APA: Online.
- Horowitz, S. (2019) “Grading a Sample Pape” Philosophers Cocoon: Online.
Apr 24: Teaching Reading Philosophy
- “How to Read Philosophy – 1000-Word Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology.” www.1000wordphilosophy.com
May 1: Some Teaching Challenges
- Cahn, M. S. (2023). “Taking Teaching More Seriously.” Blog of the APA: Online.
- Zweber, A. (2024). “AI Can’t Replace Teachers (Entirely).” Blog of the APA: Online.
May 5 - 16: Dead Week and Finals Week - No TA Colloquium!