Reflective teaching

By

Tahsin Farhat

Outline

• Introduction and Purpose• Models• Incorporation into practice • Observation: Bangladeshi Context• Pros and Cons

Reflective TeachingWhat is reflection?

Reflection is a response to past experience

involves conscious recall and examination of the experience

a basis for evaluation and decision making

a source for planning and action

Reflective TeachingAccording to Schon

(1987)-

“It involves thoughtfully considering one’s own experiences in applying knowledge to practice while being coached by professionals in the disciplines”

Reflective Teaching

According to Hopkins and Antes (1990)-“Reflective teaching is an action research and action research is defined as a tool of curriculum development consisting of continuous feedback that targets specific problems in a particular school setting.”

Reflective Teaching

So….reflection or critical reflection is an activity or process in which experience is recalled, considered,

and evaluated, usually in relation to a broader purpose..

Reflective Teaching

Aims at systematic Process

Aims at establishing teachers as “decision makers.’

Aims at making teachers as “reflective practitioners.”

Purposes of Reflective Teaching:

Reflective Teaching

Purposes of Reflective Teaching:

Aims at making a connection between teachers and students

Aims at developing better working relationship with colleagues

Teacher Reflection Model

• The term refers the way which pre-service and in-service programs deliver knowledge to learners.

• Key term- received knowledge - experiential knowledge

Teacher Education Model• 3 important models of teacher education-The craft modelThe applied science modelThe comprehensive model

• Craft modelExpert teachers instruct the trainees and trainees

imitate themDevelops experiential knowledge

Teacher Education Model• The applied science modelo Trainees are taught scientific knowledge and

expected to apply this knowledge in the classroomo Teaching can be studied scientifically and objectivelyo This term is an excellent source of received

knowledge but there is absence of experiential knowledge

Teacher Education Model

• Comprehensive modelo Applies both to individual

teacher’s reflection and training situations

o Reflective cycle

Received knowledge +experiential knowledge

practice

reflection

Professional competence

Incorporation of Reflective Teaching :

gives a reflection what is being taught and what the learners are actually able to learn/gain from teaching.

Strategic planning for guiding students with a particular purpose so that they themselves can extract meaning from any given text is the basic need for reflective teaching.

Techniques of Reflective teaching : Action Research Portfolio Development Participation in some professional development institutes

Action Research :

Can be conducted in teacher education program.

Designed to engage the reflective participation of both pre-service and in-service teachers.

Beneficial for both teachers and learners.

Benefits :

Portfolio Development :It is a favorite tool used in pre-service teacher education.

It encourages novice teachers to gather artifacts.

It includes reflective component for teachers to include materials.

Portfolios are modified for teachers to apply learning to practice.

Participation in Professional Development Institutes :It focuses on the teacher attitudes that affect practice.

Offers novice teachers an opportunity to explore attitudes.

It helps to develop management skills and reflects on the ethical implications of practice in classroom.

Causes teachers to step back and reflect on their own style of teaching.

How Reflective Teaching in practice benefits ?Primarily Teachers can have a deeper understanding of their own teaching effectiveness.

Other Benefits : More comprehensive Validation of teacher’s ideals Beneficial challenges to tradition Recognition of teaching as artistry

Observations:• Practical issues:• Teaching – Problematic profession Procedural Unpredictable Rapidly developing

Therefore, teachers need to be updated day by day to teach effectively.

Some Observations:IN Bangladeshi CONTEXT,• Adopting Reflective teaching is Beneficial and Effective,

• ‘Classrooms plagued with inadequacies’ - Rubina Khan, 2005

• Pre-service programs are rather theoretical.• Little provision to practicum.• Lack of training facilities & language proficiency

Possible in our context, if….• Practicum module is launched in

all universities.

• Trainee teachers’ uptake to reflective practice is facilitated.

• Trainee teachers are enabled to think deeply about issues related to teaching, learning, professional development and decision making

Reflective teaching is ESSENTIAL -• Improvement of teaching can

be achieved from ‘reconstruction of experience’ – John Dewey, 1933

• Reflection in a process of self-inquiry for decision making and focusing on areas of development’ – Rubina Khan, 2005

Conclusion Beneficial form of continuous

professional growth and development at both pre-service and in-service levels of teaching.

Significant because of the various potential outcomes of teaching.

Thank you