In this paper, the author describes the three instructional strategies (respect for diversity, the power of reciprocal learning, and personal reflection) that she believes allowed her to become a successful teacher and career educator. She contends that though details and events may vary from classroom to classroom, respecting diversity,…

This article discusses one first-time student teacher's experience. Her experience was not unsuccessful, but was different than she had expected. She passed the semester with an acceptable report and found a position the next fall in her chosen school district as a kindergarten teacher, and perhaps more importantly, she learned some valuable…

A learning environment survey can be easily used in the science classroom to evaluate new instructional approaches, to spark enthusiasm, and to produce evidence showing that science teachers are indeed becoming a reflective practitioner. Conducting learning environment research in the classroom is personally rewarding as well. It allows science…

The learning opportunities for student-teachers in practicum settings has long been acknowledged and studied in considerable depth. However, the learning opportunities for cooperating teachers, while celebrated and extolled as an important reciprocal benefit, have not been verified to the same degree. Drawing on the concept of reflection, and…

Peer Observation of Teaching is one process employed within higher education establishments in Britain that can be instrumental in developing the reflective practices of professional lecturers. It is a means of making the focus and purpose of reflection more explicit and effective through allowing academics to consider their roles as professional…

Changes in the profession of medicine are creating the demand for a substantive reexamination of current practices in medical education. Many of the major issues in addressing this challenge are structural and political rather than scientific; here we address one critical scientific issue that will be important to (though not by itself adequate…

Recent changes in education, including inclusion of students with disabilities, promise to heighten the complexity of teaching. Preparing reflective teachers may help to deal with these increasing demands. This paper reports analysis of critical reflection and two other features in cases authored by teacher candidates and submitted in a course on…

For experienced teachers and teacher educators, reflective thinking has become "second nature," an automatic response or a disposition (Katz, 1993). Teacher educators are searching for ways to facilitate the development of reflective thinking with teacher candidates. This article discusses scaffolding, which helps teacher candidates think…

Describes a developmental model for providing technical assistance and teacher training. Highlights how model builds a trusting relationship with the teacher; shapes effective practices; provides conceptual labels and explains reasons for effective practices; generalizes effective practices to other parts of the program; and facilitates dialogue…

Examines the range of strategies that can be used to promote reflection, focusing on microteaching as a vehicle for enabling students to become aware of their values, attitudes, and assumptions about learning as these are enacted within microteaching. The subsequent feedback becomes a dialogue between student, peer, teacher fellow, and tutor that…

This descriptive study uses narrative analysis to examine the nature and quality of pre-service teachers' initial attempts at reflection via the genre of memoir writing in a social studies methods course. The paper begins by reviewing other uses of narrative reflection and autobiographical writing in teacher education. This is followed by an…

In contemporary times educators must be able to work effectively within contexts of change, paradox and instability. This has implications for programs that prepare teachers. In particular, teacher education programs should seek to develop teachers who can enquire systematically and critically into their educational practices. However, current…

This study examined the use of digital video editing as the main venue for fostering reflection. The impact of digital video editing technology on preservice teachers' beliefs included shifts in (a) reflections regarding children's thinking, (b) planning and instruction informed by reflection, and (c) notions of teaching expertise and requisite…

This article, written from a North American perspective, illustrates that the beginning special educator needs more than just a behavioural "bag of tricks" to help her or him develop confidence in managing the learning environment. Chris Blake and Elizabeth Monahan work from the premise that all teachers need to be systematically trained to use…

An effective mode of reflective practice and reflexivity is through personal professional narrative and story exploration. All professional and personal experience is naturally storied; telling or writing stories are prime human ways of understanding, communicating and remembering. Narratives of vital or key areas of professional experience can be…