The Importance of Reflection

All Teach2030 courses focus on reflection as a way to improve practice, but what does this mean and how do we do this?

What is reflection?

Reflection is when we give serious thought and consideration to something. It allows us to think deeply about something after something has occurred.

When it comes to teaching, it means analytically thinking about what went well, what could have gone better, what works and what does not work. It involves thinking about how we can best change to become better at what we do.

Why is reflection important?

There are many reasons why reflection matters. Reflection allows us to:

• maintain good practice
• improve our practice
• think positively and reward ourselves
• help us to enjoy our job more
• learn from others
• improve our students’ classroom experience
• build strong relationships with other teachers.

How can we reflect?

However, other ways you can reflect include:

• asking yourself questions after every lesson, such as ‘what went well?’ and ‘what could I do better next time?’
• writing a weekly journal about your teaching experiences
• observing other teachers’ lessons
• asking students what they think about your lessons
• research other ways to teach the same topic

It can be very hard to be objective (looking at things from a distance without too much emotion) when it comes to reflection. Sometimes, we can be overly subjective. This means that we have a bias and tend to be harsh or generous with our thoughts, as we are emotionally involved. It is important to try to be fair on yourself!

Now, take time to discuss with your learning partner the following questions. Alternatively, you could write your answers down independently.

• Do you reflect on your teaching? If so, how? If not, why not?
• Are you overly critical or generous with comments you make about yourself? Are you sure? You might want to ask your learning partner too.
• What ideas are there from above that you could consider trying? How often will you do this? Who could support you with this?