The Need for Reflection as a Teacher
Fe. S. Carreon
Reflection is a very important part of learning and education as a whole. As educational philosopher John Dewey once quoted, “Active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it, and the further conclusions to which it tends, constitutes reflective thought.”
This definition supports the idea that reflection is an active process. Reflection allows people to think back on and learn from their experiences, constructing new knowledge, and applying that knowledge to new experiences.
In this way, reflection could be thought of as nearly synonymous with process of education. But what is the value of reflection for teachers? Teachers who strive to better the education of their students should constantly be reflecting on what they teach and how they teach it, judging the effectiveness of their teaching, learning from that reflection, and using what they learn to inform further teaching.
Reflective teaching can be promoted through regular self-evaluation and formalized teaching inventories. Using multiple forms of reflection in teaching can also increase its potential effect immensely. Daily reflection through less formal journaling can help teachers process and learn from their teaching experiences in an ongoing manner.
Teachers can also record their lessons on video, reviewing them to gain perspective and reflect on their instruction and student experience. In addition, a teacher’s most valuable resource is the community of colleagues. One teacher may be having difficulty engaging a student in a particular subject. But a colleague may have already found a way to adjust instruction technique, environment or content to help that student engage.
Integrating reflection into curricula can help students deepen engagement in their own learning. As a whole, promoting reflection for teachers and students alike can affect educational growth for the entire school community.
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The author is Teacher III at Cabetican Elementary School - Proper