The learning experience

There are 4 main aspects to working through the programme.

1)Working through the course material

The Textbook is divided up into sections which correspond to all but two of the modules in the UCLan programme. So the first module is the first section of the book. Students begin to read this, looking at the readings contained on a CD Rom at the back of the textbook. It is important to do this carefully and actually to do the thinking, reading and writing exercises as they occur.

2) Discussing ideas and reactions and asking questions on the e-learning page for the programme

Our e-learning software, WebCT, allows students to be in contact with each other and with the course tutors. The pace that that conversation naturally has through the threaded email-like system fits reflection and philosophy very well. Wittgenstein used to say that philosophers used to greet each other with the phrase ‘Take things slowly!’ and sometimes it is helpful to think about questions before answering. (I certainly find this to be the case!)

3) Writing the first essay

Students write one 5,000 word essay on every module (except the Research Methods module which has three shorter assignments and the dissertation which is 8,000 - 10,000 words). The title is the students’ choice but has to be agreed by one of the course tutors and each essay should connect to the subject area of each module in some sense. But this is a graduate programme, so if one already has clear ideas for subjects to research, tutors do their best to help fit those into the course structure. If not, it is worth keeping one’s mind open to possibilities raised in the teaching material or in discussion. (There are some suggestions on the e-learning website.)

For the first essay, we also ask for a draft 2,000 word essay to be submitted a month before the first deadline. This does not count towards the degree (although it is compulsory) but provides an opportunity to get feedback for the difficult first essay. For most students, the draft essay serves as the basis for the first assessed essay.

4) Keeping up with the changing field

This is a developing field and there are conferences and seminars ranging from very applied aspects to purely philosophical. We can use e-learning as a way to keep everyone up to date with these as they arise. (The next International Conference on Philosophy of Psychiatry is in New Zealand in July 2012.)