Course Profile - Curriculum Services Canada

Evaluation
Sub-task Group/Individual Due
Date
Second-order Questions Related to Theme
Group
Knowledge and Understanding
Individual
Description/Explanation of Medium Selected
Thinking/Inquiry
Individual
Second-order Questions Related to Medium Selected
Application
Group
Evaluation form
Application/Knowledge and Understanding/Communication Group
Hosting of Cafe
Communication
Individual
Personal Reflection
Note: Crucial to the success of any group project is individual accountability. In the case of the
Philosophical Café, students are required to select and describe a medium and prepare questions.
Individuals who do not complete these two steps could be removed from the group and given an
individual assignment to replace the café. For example, students could be required to write an essay for
the final evaluation rather than participating in the café.
2. The Philosopher’s Journal - A Multiple Intelligences Inquiry into Metacognition
(student handout)
Metacognition Defined: Technically speaking, metacognition is “the study of the mental processes by
which knowledge and understanding is achieved.” In other words, it is learning about how we learn.
The Importance of Metacognition: Over the past couple of decades, there has been an explosion in
research into how our brains work. The more we come to understand about the intricate workings of the
brain the better equipped we are to become effective teachers and learners. It is, therefore, somewhat
ironic that so little time is spent in the classroom having students explore and develop an understanding
of their own learning processes. By being more informed about our own learning, we are better able to
make wise choices in our educational planning, are able to channel our energies in more successful
endeavours, and are able to identify and target our weaknesses. All people have some capability to learn.
Often, failure in school is attributable to a failure to demonstrate what has been learned rather than the
failure to learn. Perhaps if students were given a variety of means to demonstrate their learning, more
students would enjoy more success. But then this would require that students know their strengths, and
this brings us back to metacognition.
The MI Journal: Throughout this course, each student is required to maintain a multiple intelligences
journal. Unlike traditional journals, which ask students to reflect through writing, this journal encourages
students to express their reactions to a variety of issues or to summarize their impressions of events or
ideas through a variety of means. You are encouraged to:
• write reflective journal entries which describe your feelings/reactions;
• write poetry to express your feelings/reactions;
• draw pictures to depict your feelings/reactions;
• prepare questions you might ask a famous philosopher regarding a particular issue/idea;
• write or adapt a song with lyrics to reflect your opinion about an issue/event;
• create and describe a dance, which reflects your feelings about an issue/event.
Your journal will reflect, in a very personal way, your views and reactions to issues addressed in this
course. All students who make a sincere effort will enjoy much success in this aspect of the course. Take
ownership over the journal; it reflects your view and your means of communicating your learning!
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• Philosophy: The Big Questions - Open