Philosophy tutorials typically have a tried-and-true format, which involves discussion questions, and classroom discussions on those questions. James departs from this format, opting for novel, interactive and engaging activities in each tutorial, often differing from week to week. These novel and interactive activities stimulate student interest, and encourage self-directed and participative learning.  

For example, in a class on ethical theories, James presented students with curated real-life cases taken from the Reddit page “Am I the Asshole?”, where anonymous Internet users post stories of moral dilemmas they faced in their day-to-day lives. He then divided the class into groups, asking each group to take on the persona of a philosopher representing a moral theory. This requires students to recall and rehearse the components of ethical theories. He then invited the groups to discuss and then present how they would reply to the Reddit post, which in turn gives the students opportunities to synthesise and apply their knowledge to new cases. 

To facilitate student comfort, James devotes the first tutorial of every semester to a discussion on classroom norms. He invites students to discuss what they want out of the class, and to propose rules, norms or formats that we can adopt during the semester. This has led to a noticeable impact on the classroom culture, with fewer interruptions, and students from minority backgrounds participating more actively than in classes he taught earlier in his career. In addition, James devotes the first five minutes of every tutorial to check-ins and warm-up activities. He invites his students, if they wish, to check-in with each other, using prompts like “Share a story of something nice that someone did for you in the last week”. This practice functions as an ice-breaker which makes the students more comfortable with each other. 

Together, these measures encourage students to engage in class discussions, which helps them become better thinkers and interlocutors.

It’s so clear that James gives everything he has to each class. He is so focused and incredibly thoughtful. He cares about what we think and redirects discussions in a sensitive, skilful way. He is generous in his interpretation of our ideas but also encourages us to refine, reflect and improve our arguments . . . His personalised approach has even changed the way I look at philosophy and what I might be capable of in this space.

Student comment, 2023