What is an example of reflective teaching?
As a society, we value education and the role it plays in personal and professional success. We also place a high value on the need for teachers to be constantly learning and growing in their practice. Reflective teaching is one way that teachers can meet both of these needs – by reflecting on their practice, they can identify areas for improvement and make necessary changes to become more effective educators.
So, what is reflective teaching? Reflective teaching is a process through which teachers reflect on their practice to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses, and then make changes based on that reflection. It is important to note that reflective teaching is not simply a case of thinking about what you did in the classroom after the fact – it is a deliberate process of analysis and reflection, often with the assistance of a mentor or other professional support.
There are many different ways to approach reflective teaching. One common model is the Reflective Cycle developed by educator John Dewey. This model guides teachers through a process of reflection, analysis, and action, and can be adapted to various situations and contexts.
The first step in the Reflective Cycle is to identify an experience to reflect on. This could be an event that happened in the classroom, a student interaction, or anything else that sticks out in your mind as being particularly significant. Once you have identified your focus, you then move on to the second step: describing the experience.
In the third step, you begin to analyze the experience. This is where you start to think about what happened and why it happened. What were the circumstances that led up to the event? What are some possible interpretations of what occurred? This is also the step where you start to think about alternative actions that you could have taken.
The fourth step is to reflect on the consequences of the event. What were the outcomes of the situation? How did it affect you, the students, and the classroom environment?
The final step in the Reflective Cycle is to take action. Based on your reflection and analysis, what changes can you make in your practice to avoid or change the outcome of similar situations in the future?
Reflective teaching is an important process for all teachers to go through regularly. It allows us to step back from our day-to-day work and think critically about our practice. By identifying areas for improvement, we can make necessary changes to become more effective educators.
