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: reflective practice is the net that provides the meal for the rest of one's life. Reflective practitioners take an inquiry stance in that they actively search for understanding, and are always open to further investigation. Timperley, Wiseman and Fung reinforced the fact that teachers need to be constantly updating and improving their practice, and engaging in lifelong learning: It is important, therefore, for teachers to continually update and expand their professional knowledge base and to improve or revise their practices so as to meet the learning needs of their increasingly diverse students… The ever-changing knowledge base in our society means that a teaching force that uses yesterday’s professional knowledge to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s society can no longer be tolerated. The advantages of reflective practice
Reflective practice provides a means for teachers to improve their practice to effectively meet the learning needs of their students. Brookfield succinctly describes the advantages of reflective practice to teachers as: It helps teachers to take informed actions that can be justified and explained to others and that can be used to guide further action. It allows teachers to adjust and respond to issues. It helps teachers to become aware of their underlying beliefs and assumptions about learning and teaching. It helps teachers promote a positive learning environment.