Train P4C

Train P4C is the Thoughtful Academic Trainer Development Programme for Teacher Educators and University Lecturers who wish to incorporate elements of Philosophy for Children and Communities (P4C) into their teaching practice and course programmes in a Higher Education setting. It is suitable for those who wish to teach trainee teachers (or other vocational students such as social workers, therapists etc.) to practise P4C in their future roles. 
 

In cases where students complete all six modules of the Thoughtful Level One course, this enables their students to achieve Thoughtful Level One accreditation, and to progress through the Thoughtful professional development pathway.
 

The Train P4C Programme equips participants to apply to become ‘Academic Trainers’. This designation of trainer is licensed by Thoughtful to:

• refer to themselves as a Thoughtful Academic Trainer 
• use elements of our Level One course (including the structure, curriculum, slides, handbook, readings and assessment protocols) in part or in whole, to teach undergraduate or postgraduate students to practise P4C 
• nominate students for the Certificate of Attendance, which Thoughtful will issue to those who complete all six modules of the Level One course 
• carry out internal assessment of students, according to Thoughtful protocols, and nominate those who pass for the Certificate of Achievement, which Thoughtful will issue to them. 
• attend Thoughtful Trainer CPD and events along with our Independent Trainers. 
• offer Thoughtful P4C within their current institution, and only where that institution is an official Thoughtful Partner (i.e., this designation of training is not transferable to another institution) 
• offer Thoughtful P4C at Level One only (and not Level Two or Three material, nor materials from our Extend, Refresh, Innovate, or Observe classes) 
• offer Thoughtful P4C to their registered students only, and not to colleagues, neighbouring universities, local schools or any others 
• offer Thoughtful P4C only where doing so does not generate a profit for the institution and where no additional charges are placed on students (besides the usual tuition fees) 

Those who take part in the programme will: 

• experience taking part in a Community of Philosophical Enquiry and learn how to offer your students a similar experience 
• theorise about how we philosophise and what we philosophise about and learn how to equip your students to do the same 
• facilitate dialogue using procedural questions and learn how to equip your students to facilitate too 
• plan simple philosophical exercises and enquires and learn how to enable your students to plan P4C appropriate to their future context. 
• evaluate your own thinking so you can support others to become more evaluative and learn how to equip your students to do the same 
• apply P4C to your specific context and the needs of your participants and learn how to support your students to think about their future contexts 
• practice P4C in your setting, or in local schools, and find appropriate opportunities for your students to practise too 
• evidence your understanding via the assessment questions and learn how to equip your students to do the same 

They will also be supported to: 

• plan elements of the Begin P4C (Level One) course into your academic teaching in a flexible way that works for you and your students 
• understand how to assess our students in ways that that are compatible with your institutional practices and Thoughtful’s key course questions 
• understand Thoughtful’s administrative and quality assurance processes and help us understand yours. 
• present and receive feedback on your plans during a Thoughtful trainer interview (should you wish to apply for Academic Trainer Status) 

Minimum participants: 8 
Maximum participants: 22 

All candidates must be employed by a Higher Education Institution in a role that involves teaching undergraduates and/or postgraduates.  
 
Candidates who have previously undertaken the Begin P4C Level One course will be at an advantage, although completion of this course is not mandatory. 

18 tutored hours, at least 6 independent hours of study and a 45 min interview and presentation. For those who wish to apply to become an Academic Trainer

The programme comprises: 

• 3 X 4-hour modules covering the content of the six modules of the Begin P4C Level One course  

• 3 X 2-hour modules on (i) the practical and assessment aspects of the course, (ii) implementing the course into your current teaching and (iii) the quality assurance expectations and administrative requirements of working with Thoughtful  

• 6 X 1-hour interim tasks which include reading, practising P4C facilitation, and completing the same assessment as Level One delegates are given. 

• 30-minute interview inclusive of a 10 min assessed presentation* on your plans for P4C within your academic role [N.B. You will be interviewed by a Thoughtful staff member who is not your trainer]. 

Initially the course will be online, but we may offer in-person courses in the future. If we do, the 3 X 4 hour modules will become 2 X 6 hour in-person days.

As PDFs via Arlo, our Learner Management System 

• Thoughtful Level 1 course handbook 
• Deck of Train P4C slides in ‘handout’ format

Note the Thoughtful Level One Training materials are only made available to applicants who apply and are awarded Academic Trainer status. These materials include: 

• Full deck of Level One slides 
• Level One handouts and trainee resources  
• Detailed Level One trainer notes 
• Thoughtful Trainer Manual 

The programme is led by an experienced academic teacher educator who is also a Thoughtful Academic trainer. 

• Requirements met: 
  Having achieved full attendance (or caught up), completed the related assessment and aligned themselves with the Academic Trainer person specification, the candidate becomes eligible to apply to become an Academic trainer. Note that this process involves an application and an interview.
   

• Requirements not yet met: 
  Where the candidate does not attend the whole course, does not catch up and/or does not attempt, or does not pass, the assessment, the candidate will receive feedback on how to become eligible in line with the Academic Trainer person specification.  In some cases, this feedback may involve re-taking the course or seeking further experience of P4C practice in their academic role. 

• Thoughtful also accredits ‘Independent Trainers’. These individuals take part in a longer pathway and are therefore eligible to apply to deliver open training at Levels One, Two and Three to a wide range of delegates in the UK and internationally, and to make a profit for themselves and/or their organisation. Their Trainer status is associated with them personally, and not their institution. Those Teacher Educators and other University Lecturers who wish to obtain this status must go through the usual Trainer Pathway.  
• Only those who pass the interview and assessment can achieve Academic Trainer status. Those who do not pass, can resubmit a second time at no extra charge. Those who do not pass a second time, must re-sit the course. 
• To retain their status, all Academic Trainer Status, must re-register with Thoughtful every year, a process that requires the payment of a £125 fee and their participation in ongoing CPD which generally incurs a fee too. 
• Academic Trainer Status requires the institution to become an official partner.  
• Accreditation of university students also requires that the university’s materials are audited by Thoughtful to ensure the module covers our curriculum. An initial audit is included as part of this programme, but if your materials change. You will need them to be audited again. This also incurs a fee.