Reflective practice in teaching

Reflective Practice in Teaching

Reflective practice is the process by which teachers critically examine their teaching methods, decisions, and outcomes to continuously improve their effectiveness in the classroom. It turns everyday experiences into opportunities for growth.

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🔍 What Is Reflective Practice?

“Reflection is the heart of effective teaching.” – Donald Schön

Reflective practice involves thinking deeply about:

• What worked well?

• What didn’t work?

• Why did students struggle or succeed?

• How can I do better next time?

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🧠 Types of Reflection

Type	Description
Reflection-in-action	Thinking while teaching and making immediate changes.
Reflection-on-action	Thinking after a lesson to review what went well or poorly.
Reflection-for-action	Thinking before teaching to plan improvements for next time.

📋 Steps in Reflective Practice

1. Describe the teaching event or experience.

2. Analyze what happened and why.

3. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses.

4. Decide what to change or continue.

5. Apply the insights in future lessons.

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🧰 Tools for Reflective Practice

Tool	Use
📝 Reflective Journal	Regularly write down classroom experiences and thoughts.
🎥 Lesson Video Recording	Record your teaching to observe your techniques and student reactions.
👥 Peer Observation	Invite colleagues to observe and give feedback.
📊 Student Feedback	Use surveys or exit slips to understand student perspectives.
🧭 Self-assessment Rubrics	Rate your lesson design, questioning techniques, or classroom management.

🌟 Benefits of Reflective Practice

• Improves instructional quality

• Builds self-awareness and confidence

• Enhances student engagement and learning

• Encourages innovation and adaptation

• Fosters professional growth

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🏫 Examples in Practice

• A teacher realizes students are disengaged during lectures → switches to interactive group activities.

• After a noisy class, a teacher reflects and adjusts classroom rules or seating arrangements.

• A science teacher notices students struggle with abstract concepts → adds visual aids or simulations.

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📚 Reflective Models You Can Use

Model	Key Stages
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle	Description → Feelings → Evaluation → Analysis → Conclusion → Action Plan
Kolb’s Experiential Learning	Concrete Experience → Reflective Observation → Abstract Conceptualization → Active Experimentation
Brookfield’s Four Lenses	Self, Students, Colleagues, Theory

🎯 The Final Amendment:-

Reflective practice transforms teaching from a routine job into a dynamic, evolving profession. It empowers educators to be intentional, responsive, and learner-focused.