What Ph.D. Granting Institutions Can Do to Prepare Philosophers for a Job at a SLAC

I'd like to begin by posing what one might call "the problem of the graduate student."  It's a problem that is a problem both for those who are graduate students and for those who want their graduate students to get a good job as a professional philosopher (where 'good' means a job that is well-paying and at which one can thrive at as a person, scholar and teacher).

Pssst. Here's a way you might be able to get students to read more

But I fear it's so devious, so crafty, so underhanded that I can't tell you about it.

OK, pull my arm. I'll tell you about it.

“Philosophy Discussions Online: How to Make them Productive, Effective and Efficient”

The American Association of Philosophy Teachers (AAPT) invites proposals for its session “Philosophy Discussions Online: How to Make them Productive, Effective and Efficient” at the upcoming Pacific APA meeting in San Francisco from March 27 to 31, 2013. 

Papers are solicited that present ways to achieve meaningful online discussions in either Philosophy courses taught completely online or in traditional Philosophy courses with an online-discussion component. Specific case examples that use formats such as discussion threads, blogs, wikis, chat rooms, or even argument mapping software are welcome. Reference to particular pedagogic theories and/or approaches that ground the instructor’s way of handling discussion would also be much appreciated. 

Submissions are encouraged from teachers at all levels of university and college teaching—that is, teachers of Philosophy courses in 2-year and 4-year programs as well as in MA and PhD programs. 

Proposals should be of presentations that are no more than 20 minutes; are oriented towards the practical implementation of the ideas presented; and preferably, are interactive with the audience.  Presentations may be made by individuals or by panels. 

The AAPT two-hour session will be composed of three 20-minute presentations followed by one hour of discussion with the audience.

Proposals should be no longer than 300 words and should be submitted in either Word or PDF format to Bill Anelli at anellib@mjc.edu and Tziporah Kasachkoff at tkasachkoff@yahoo.com. 

Deadline for submission of proposals is October 15th, 2012.