by Terry Heick
Reflection is a elementary tenet of studying; it’s also, due to this fact, a elementary a part of educating.
Why it occurs is a matter of humility. However how and when it occurs–and with whom–is much less clear. That is partly as a result of there are a number of sides to reflection–size, width, and depth. A Z-axis.
It’s complete.
As a type of definition, to replicate means to look again at how one thing ‘went,’ and see it for all of its obtainable components and patterns: Causes and results; comparisons and distinction; strengths and weak spot; its traits; how shut it got here to what you have been anticipating; your feelings.
I deliberate this, and it went like this, and now I believe this.
Reflection, then, is the bridge between what we do and what we will do higher. It’s the pause that enables enchancment, the silence that precedes understanding. And whereas it might probably seem to be an summary very best, its results are something however.
What Does Reflection Look Like?
Reflection in educating would possibly seem like this:
A trainer pausing on the finish of a lesson to jot down a fast notice: What went nicely? What didn’t? How did the scholars reply?
Collaborative conversations throughout skilled studying communities (PLCs): Sharing successes, analyzing failures, and contemplating different methods.
Reviewing scholar work with curiosity fairly than judgment: What does this inform me about how they suppose? What gaps do I see? What strengths can I construct on?
A psychological replay on the finish of the day: Pondering by moments that stood out—successes, struggles, surprises—and unpacking why they mattered.
Reflection doesn’t at all times require construction, however construction will help. It’s a method to make reflection a behavior as a substitute of an afterthought. Reflection can occur alone or with others, formally or informally, in writing or in thought.
Instruments for Reflection
To make reflection sensible and actionable, think about instruments like:
Journaling: Preserve a easy educating journal. On the finish of every day, write down three issues: what labored, what didn’t, and what you’re inquisitive about for tomorrow.
Checklists or rubrics: These can be utilized to judge classes or educating methods in opposition to particular standards.
Pupil suggestions: Recurrently search enter from college students about what helps them be taught. This may be by surveys, open-ended questions, or casual discussions.
Video recording: Recording a lesson and reviewing it might probably supply an goal view of your educating in motion.
Reflection as a Shared Observe
Reflection doesn’t should occur in isolation. Collaborating with friends provides new views and uncovers blind spots. When lecturers share their reflections, it normalizes the observe and creates a tradition of progress inside a faculty.
Ask colleagues: What’s one technique you’ve used that labored nicely just lately? What’s a problem you’ve been reflecting on?
Take part in reflective protocols: Structured discussions just like the “Vital Buddies” protocol present a framework for sharing and analyzing educating practices.
The Advantages of Reflection
The advantages of reflective educating ripple outward. For lecturers, it fosters skilled progress, sharpens self-awareness, and reignites function. For college kids, it creates higher studying experiences and fashions the lifelong studying course of.
Reflection isn’t about reaching perfection however about steady enchancment. It’s the observe of aligning your actions along with your beliefs, guaranteeing that your educating displays your core values and greatest intentions.
Reflection appears like an summary concept–one thing unspecific, and even a bit mystical. One thing we do within the bathe on the drive residence when nobody’s round and we’re free to roam in our personal minds. It’s undoubtedly true that reflection comes most effortlessly, and in its purest and rawest kinds, in these circumstances once we–that’s, our minds–aren’t in any other case engaged.
Reflection isn’t a single factor–a field to test in some elliptical cycle of studying. It’s as a lot a matter of self-awareness, humility, and affection as it’s timing, sequence, and process.
I can see the craft of educating as each a sequence of steps and the achievement of design. It’s each components and complete. Science and artwork. Skilled and other people.
I do know nothing is ever good, so I search to enhance. I additionally know what’s improvable inside my means, and what pathways there are to get there.
I imagine within the endurance of information and understanding, and can carry all the things I do know to bear on my craft.
With this sort of examination laid out, their observe of reflection is extra fruitful, a type of tilling of the bottom to reap crops. That is the place the non-abstractions are available–the tangible instruments, processes, and companions of reflection that permit us to socialize ourselves and our educating, and profit from the concrete observe of reflection.
The Position Of Reflection In Instructor Enchancment
Once I use social media, I achieve this each as a matter of observe and thought. Mechanical actions result in thought, and the opposite method round. I skim social channels, test mentions and messages, and reply if it is sensible. These are inputs. The output, if I get it good, is reflection.
If I learn a tweet, interpret what I imagine to be its which means, discover relevance in its message, and suppose–even briefly–about how I relate to it and it to me, I’m approaching reflection.
Tweet: The Constructing Momentum Behind Social Emotional Studying
My response: What’s the ‘massive concept’ of social-emotional studying? What do I do know–and never know? What instruments am I conscious of that might work right here? Do I want a instrument–is that this price clicking on? Ought to I save to Pocket with out clicking? Click on and browse? RT with out studying? Learn, then RT? Favourite with or with out studying? How am I spending my time proper now on social media? Am I bumming round, or ought to I be extra intentional–this instrument or concept for this want I’ve tomorrow.
If reflection occurs on social media–and it does–then it’s each a matter of observe and behavior–a bent in the direction of the type of thought that promotes change in your educating. However this actually has nothing to do with twitter; that is simply a straightforward instance that lots of you possibly can relate to. It’s concerning the dimensions of reflection: The How, the When, and the Who.
How Does Reflection Occur?
You possibly can begin with prompts for reflective teaching. These–or others–might be about wanting on the ins and outs of educating so long as they result in your constructing each a capability and a bent to replicate by yourself.
There’s, in fact, vulnerability that comes with reflection. Being trustworthy, clear, after which standing by yourself.
The reflection truly begins a lot earlier, alone, in your individual thoughts after one thing occurs. Then, it usually occurs with somebody–a buddy, colleague, or liked one. Possibly even a scholar. Then, you’re prone to replicate once more, alone, now pushed additional in your considering by the ‘collectively’ half. Writing about it once more, after which sharing that with others makes the reflection extra complicated, and extra private.
Sequence: Alone–>Collectively–>Alone
Reflection, amongst different patterns, usually occurs Alone (which is gradual and passive), Collectively (which is extra fast, and energetic) after which Alone Once more (as soon as extra, gradual and passive).
Sequence: Whereas Instructing–>After Instructing–>After Faculty
Reflection can be a matter of timing. Reflection can occur at any time, however no ahead of the occasion begins going down: The lesson, the evaluation, the assembly, the Socrative Dialogue.
Whereas educating, how is it going actually? What changes appear essential? What’s most vital right here? Then instantly after, how did it go (analysis), and the way do I do know (information)? After faculty, now that I’ve had an opportunity to ‘get away’ from the occasion some, what do I believe now? What’s lingering? What ought to I do in a different way subsequent time? What would college students say in the event that they have been proper right here subsequent to me?
Sequence: College students–>Colleagues–>PLN
After which, with whom ought to I replicate? College students? Colleagues? Skilled Studying Networks? My partner? How is every episode completely different? What’s price speaking about and price forgetting?
How can I see reflection as a method of educating in order that it’s unattainable to separate out and itemize, however is as a substitute a moment-by-moment factor that’s at all times with me like a heartbeat?
What It Means To Be A Reflective Instructor
Trending Merchandise
