Philosophy Department to Host Guest Scholar Stephen Bloch-Schulman

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Stephen Bloch-Schulman, associate professor of philosophy at Elon University, Elon, NC

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Stephen Bloch-Schulman, associate professor of philosophy at Elon University, will be conducting a workshop, Inclusive Pedagogy in Philosophy: From Easy Changes to Transformative Possibilities, from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, in Old Main, room 329.  Bloch-Schulman will introduce workshop participants to a vision for what is possible in inclusive philosophic pedagogy and two simple practices that may be implemented immediately.    

The workshop’s main objectives are: to raise rich questions about the goals of inclusive pedagogy, to present the most current data findings on inclusive practices, and to move, step by step, from simple to more transformative changes for inclusive pedagogies in the undergraduate philosophy classroom.   

Bloch-Shulman is a pioneer in research on advocacy for better and more inclusive pedagogy in the philosophy classroom and organizes workshops and seminars for promulgating better pedagogical practices across the country for the American Association of Philosophy Teachers. 

“The philosophy department has invited him as part of our longstanding interest improving students’ classroom experience in philosophy,” said Edward Minar, chair of the Department of Philosophy in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “In particular, we are committed to promoting diversity in our classes at all levels, to serving underrepresented groups, and to striving for inclusiveness – to addressing the needs of students with different learning styles, backgrounds and educational goals.”

Bloch-Schulman received a doctorate in philosophy from Marquette University in 2004.  He publishes articles on a regular basis about the scholarship of teaching and learning and is on the editorial board of three journals. One of his articles received honorable mention for the American Association of Philosophy Teachers’ 2012 Lennsen Prize, and he co-wrote the winning article for the 2014 prize.  He has served as a co- and lead facilitator for the past four American Philosophy Association/American Association of Philosophy Teachers’ Graduate Seminar in the Teaching of Philosophy.      

The workshop, sponsored by the Department of Philosophy, is free and open to anyone in the community.