Title: Reflective practice
Headings: Reflective practice
Reflective practice
What does the research say?
The advantages of reflective practice
Reflective practice attitudes and attributes
Attitudes
Attributes
Essential modes of, and lenses for, reflection
The modes of reflection
The lenses for reflection
The autobiographical lens (self)
The student lens
The colleague lens
The theoretical lens (literature and research)
References
Learn more
Department resources
Other resources

Content: Brookfield suggests using the following 4 lenses for reflection. The autobiographical lens (self)
The autobiographical lens, or self-reflection, is the foundation of critical reflection. It requires teachers to stand back from an experience and view it more objectively. This lens allows teachers to become aware of aspects of their pedagogy that are effective or that may need adjustment or strengthening. The student lens
This lens allows teachers to view their practice from students’ perspectives and is often a consistently surprising element for teachers. Both self-reflection and engaging with student feedback may reveal aspects of teaching practice that need adjustment. The colleague lens
While good teachers will engage with the first two lenses, excellent teachers may also look to peers for mentoring, advice and feedback. Engaging with colleagues and hearing their perspectives allows teachers to check, reframe, and broaden theories of practice, and to consider new ideas and approaches. It also makes teachers aware that many of the challenges in teaching are common, which can be profoundly reassuring. The theoretical lens (literature and research)
The fourth lens found in theoretical literature fosters critically reflective teaching.