"A.B. Paterson College Honours Program excels at critical, creative and collaborative thinking skills at the University of Queensland Philosothon 2024".

We are thrilled to announce that selected Honours Program students from Years 7-11 recently participated in the University of Queensland Philosothon 2024, held under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Peter Ellerton and Professor Deborah Brown. We are even prouder to share that our Honours students have successfully qualified for the 2024 Australasian Philosothon!

What is a Philosothon?

A Philosothon is an enriching event designed to develop students' critical analysis, argumentation skills, and collaborative exploration of philosophical issues. Over the years, the Philosothon has gained significant national and international recognition for its impact on educational outcomes. The event takes the form of a 'Community of Inquiry,' where students from diverse schools work together to answer complex philosophical questions. They engage with university-grade stimulus material provided by respected academics, exposing them to various philosophical disciplines such as epistemology, ethics, and metaphysics.

Our Students' Achievements:

Participating in this year's Philosothon, our Honours Program students displayed exceptional skills in inquiry-based learning, ethical reasoning, and reflective thinking. The event emphasised collaboration over competition, fostering a safe space for students to enrich each other's understanding. Each Community of Inquiry was facilitated by Philosophy teachers and judged by a panel of educators, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of students' abilities.

Looking Forward to the Australasian Philosothon:

The success at the University of Queensland Philosothon means our students will now advance to the Australasian Philosothon, where they will engage with peers from across Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, and Asia) in further philosophical inquiries. This prestigious opportunity allows our students to continue developing their higher-order thinking and communication skills while fostering a sense of community and shared understanding.

About the Organisers:

Professor Deborah Brown is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Queensland and Director of the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project. She is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities and currently the President of the Australasian Association of Philosophy. Her expertise lies in applying critical thinking to education and leadership training.

Dr. Peter Ellerton is the Curriculum Director of the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry. He has a rich background in public reasoning, science communication, and argumentation. Dr. Ellerton has significantly contributed to the development of critical and creative thinking in education at both national and international levels. Notably, Dr. Ellerton is one of Australia's renowned academics, who developed V9.0 of ACARA's Critical and Creative Thinking General Capabilities. Currently, his latest research is focused on how the practical mechanisms of collaboration are an essential part of how we develop better critical and creative thinking, especially, considering how important collaboration is as a 21st century skill.

Congratulations to the following Honours students:

Miles Britton, Coby Calver, Jena Chai, Matilda Grant, Abigail Harrison, Emelia Wedemeyer, Finlay Canavan, Andrew Francesconi, Louise Lee, Naomi Menardo, Maya Phegan, George Habib, Shanaye Naidoo, Mimi Shen, Lana Francesconi, Jinyu Yan, Scarlett Fisher, Sophie Magee, James Riddle, Eric Zhang and Peter Zhu.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our Honours Program students for their outstanding performance and look forward to our Honours students continued collaborative success at the Australasian Philosothon on September 6th and 7th, 2024.

CATHERINE RIDDLE | HEAD OF ACADEMIC ACADEMY