Eastbank Academy: Citizenship through Community of Enquiry

Discussion is a central teaching technique in the Higher English course. Craig Smillie at Eastbank Academy developed a Community of Enquiry with his Higher class to examine the role of philosophical enquiry in helping students develop a more sophisticated critical tool for thought.

The study stemmed from a research project which explored the usefulness of this approach in the teaching of the Close Reading and Literature elements of the Revised Higher English course. As part of the project a series of experimental enquiries was set up involving one Higher English class, using the standard type of English text as a stimulus for discussion. The case study itself focuses on one session which used the text of a speech delivered by Hillary Clinton to the UN Fourth World Conference of Women as a stimulus.

As a result of this study, conclusions were drawn about the merits and limitations of the approach:

• The procedure did produce sophisticated and creative discussion around the texts to be studied.
• Students were keen to take ownership of the discussion procedure and the knowledge and understanding about the texts under scrutiny.
• Greater understanding of texts was garnered in group discussion.
• The linking and building mechanism of the Enquiry method encouraged students to listen carefully to one another and produce a coherent discourse.
• Disagreement began to be seen as a constructive, positive force.

For more information and ideas on developing pupils' critical thinking skills through communities of enquiry, plus further examples of good practice, visit our Philosophy pages on the National Qualifications site.

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MP3 file: Community of Enquiry, Eastbank Academy (4.9 MB)