Week 17 My Reflective Practice





I am going to use the reflective model proposed by Jay and Johnsons (2002, Pg. 77) to reflect on my reflective practice, following 3 steps.

My Current Reflective Practice

I do reflect on my own practice after class everyday in an informal way. I try to improve on my practice daily, especially with my 2 Year 10 classes. I modify my plans/ways to teach the second class after reflecting on how things went with the first class if necessary.
Typically I write down my reflections only for my appraisal or as part of the inquiry process. I criticise my own practice rather than critiquing it.
I wish someone would observe my lesson and critique it but typically I provide my own reflections. I periodically survey my learners to get my learner’s voice. It is the best way for me to reflect on my own practice at the moment.

Finlay (2008) stated that the term of “reflective practice” has a wide range of meanings “from the idea of professionals engaging in solitary introspection to that of engaging in critical dialogue with others” (Pg. 2) adding “recapture practice experiences and mull them over critically in order to gain new understandings and so improve future practice” (Pg. 1).

From Finlay’s statements I believe that my current reflection is “reflective practice”.
My levels of reflection are “1. Rapid reflection” and “2. Repair“ according to Zeichner and Liston’s Five Levels of Reflection (cited in Finlay, 2008, p.4).


Raising the level of reflection

I would like someone to critique my practice.
I was involved in a project that allowed me to post blogs to a web-site and participate in forums with others. I posted a blog as a reflection immediately after the practice and shared with others who were able to offer suggestions. I felt safe to post blogs there because we were on a  journey together and we understood what our issues were.
Larrivee (2000) recommends “journal writing is a reflective process that allows teachers to chart their development and become more aware of their contribution to the experiences they encounter. This process of systematic self-reflection can provide the clarification necessary for teachers to gain, or regain, a sense of meaning and purpose in their teaching” (Pg. 296-Pg. 297).

Yang (2009) suggests “blogs allow people to exchange information without space and time constraints, to broaden their knowledge, and to meet personal needs and interests at the same time” (Pg. 13).

Research supports the use of blogs to reflect on practice are especially useful for busy educators. Efimova & Fiedler (2003) state “a blog is like a small learning community.
I would like to have a place to post blogs with members of a supportive community again where feedback enlivens the reflective process.

Implications of various perspectives for Reflective Practice

People rarely see themselves as others do.
Zalipour  (2015) stated “Feedback can provide us with the impetus to embark upon reflective practice systematically and diligently”. Blog writing and receiving feedback would help me improve my reflective practice.
Clarke (2017) added “it emphasises the importance of teachers engaging in reflective practice and the importance of them doing so through collaborative arrangements with colleagues” and “collaboration offers opportunities for teachers to exchange ideas and good practice as well as expanded avenues for professional learning”.

Blog writing with critical feedback from colleagues will allow me to “retheorise and reformulate” (Zeichner and Liston’s Five Levels of Reflection, cited in Finlay, 2008, p.4) motivating me to further improvements to my practice.

References

Finlay, L. (2009). Reflecting on reflective practice. Practice-based Professional Learning Centre, Open University. Retrieved from http://www.open.ac.uk/opencetl/sites/www.open.ac.uk.opencetl/files/files/ecms/web-content/Finlay-(2008)-Reflecting-on-reflective-practice-PBPL-paper-52.pdf

Jay, J.K. and Johnson, K.L. (2002). Capturing complexity: a typology of reflective practice for teacher education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 18, 73-85.

Larrivee, B. (2000).Transforming teaching practice: becoming the critically reflective teacher. Reflective Practice, 1(3), 293-307.

Clake, S. (2017) Nourishing teachers’ leadership for learning: Insights from practitioner research.

Yang, S., H. (2009). Using blogs to enhance critical reflection and community of practice. Educational Technology & Society, 12(2), 11-21.

Zalipour, A. (2015). Reflective Practice Teaching Development Unit, Wāhanga Whakapakari Ako. Hamilton: The University of Waikato.

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