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: 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. An engagement with both colleagues and scholarly literature supports teachers and also clarifies the contexts in which they teach. The theoretical literature extends understanding and appreciation of learning and teaching practices, and helps teachers to see the links between their personal development path and the broader educational context. In summary, reflective practice incorporates reflection in, on and for action as well as reflection within. Seeking information from various lenses serves to further strengthen reflective practice. Use the Reflective practice questions to support reflection in action.