Topic 1.3 Becoming a Reflective Practitioner

Topic 1.3 Becoming a Reflective Practitioner

Activity 1.3-1 (allow 10 minutes)

Before you read further , I would like you to write down what you understand by the term reflection and the phrase reflective teaching. Then read the following sections and compare my explanations with your understanding.


Reflection is what you get in the mirror which is exactly the same as the image itself. Reflection in teaching means reviewing the complete cycle of teaching and learning and identifying problems and shortcomings in order to plan for the future. Through reviewing a teacher will be able to understand how successful her teaching was during a particular lesson, what were the problems she faced , which parts of her teaching was not successful etc. which parts of the planning should be revisited I order to get maximum benefits out of it. A teacher in a haste can overlooked some of the features of her teaching but by reviewing it or reflecting it later will make her realizes her mistakes.

Activity 1.32-2 (Allow 15 minutes)

Write down your reaction to the above concepts. Do you engage in reflection in your daily work? If yes, how do you do that?

It is very clearly stated in Schon’s theory that action which is based on the reflections is considered as smart and intelligent actions. It is very clear that reflection plays an important role as far as the complete cycle of teaching and learning is concern. With out carefully reviewing the teaching on cannot get the short comings in it. According to his theory, there are two important distinguishable facts, Professional actions and professional expertise..
Where professional actions are practical implementations of the gained theory, Professional expertise is the result which we get through reflecting the results of the theory being implemented.
Haberman’s concept not only deals about the teacher in the context of her teaching in the classroom but also in a much broader context of the social structures and working environment of the teacher. As these conditions along with some other also influences the over all teaching.
Well in the answer of the query that am I engaged in reflection in my daily work , the answer is Yes. But in the form of casual diary writing and not very regularly (not each and every lesson would be reflected about)instead if there is any prominent changer in the reactions or response of my students then only I try to sit and review my teaching or go through my planner to identify the problem and plan accordingly.


Activity 1.3 (Allow 10 minutes)

In the light of the definition of the reflection and the skills and attitudes identified above, do you consider yourself a reflective practitioner?
Why or Why not?


Considering the definition of Zeichner and Liston and the skills and attitudes identified above. I could say I am a reflective practitioner. I concentrate on my thoughts and carefully review my planning (that is introspection). I as a teacher is very open minded to implement new strategies to make my teaching smoother. I encourage and appreciated my fellow teachers on their remarks and revisit my planning and give their views accordingly. My lab (as I am a computer teacher) is not only for the students but teaching staff can also come and use it sometimes even during my teaching and if they give me any comments afterwards I always take it and add it in my planning. In my view reflective teaching ultimately encourages reflective learning in a way that a good teacher also encourages the student to think and act beyond the pre packaged knowledge provided.

Activity 1.3-4 (allow 2 hours)

You might wish to start your journal with a short autobiography ……………………
Page # 49


a) Recall your own schooling, what feelings and images remain?

My teachers were very cooperative, they always encourages us to respond and communicates My teachers were very cooperative, they always encourages us to respond and communicates our opinions. But it is still the fact that as no two people are alike so as the teacher. Every body has different attribute. . Some were extremely enthusiastic and concern using practical mode of teaching.

b) Which teacher do you remember , what and why do you remember about them?

I remember many teachers of mine , some of them because of their way of teaching, the other others because of the content based teaching, some because of the teaching of moral values among with the content and of course some because of their monotonous way of teaching (without any emotions or practicality). One I remembered the most were those who encouraged me in particular and all the other students in general , they are no doubt a mile stone for me and a great source of inspiration . I even sometimes in a difficult situation try to figure out hoe they would have dealt with the situation at that time.

c) Why did you became a teacher?

In the beginning, there was nothing in particular in my mind. I selected this career because it suited me time wise and all because as a mother I also have to take care of my kid but gradually I realized it is sacred job, very sacred indeed where a teacher is playing with the minds of the students and giving them the roots to stand on in the future and of course stronger the roots sweeter the fruit and vice a versa. Now teaching for me is to transport my ideas and my beliefs to my students and to make my teaching a collaborative effort where I not only teach but learn too.


d) What and who influenced you ?

First my own teaches and secondly some of the teachers who were in my surrounding. I have actually learnt a lot from their experiences and their work. As far as this question is concern that what influences me then the answer is the response of my students , their eager ness for sharing their experiences and the sense of achievement on their face after learning some thing interesting, and the practical display of their work are the biggest motivational aspects for me.

e) What were the most meaning full aspects of your teacher education program that contributed to your development as a teacher?

Actually the whole training session was very educational and some how I have learnt a lot from them but I should say that the practical session specially in which the aluminis were present and shared their experiences with us was the most beneficial session as every thing became clear in my mind and I learnt a lot from their work and got tremendous inspiration to do the same.

f) Greatest strengths?

My greatest strength is the motivation to keep on learning new things and my constant reading habit.

g) i) Limitations / frustrations ?

As I have already mentioned that in our school computers is not a subject and students are taught different basic skills to use the computer in the result many of the students does not take it quite seriously. Lack of seriousness and or lack of concentration are the major hindrance in the way of teaching. This is quite frustrating for me as a teacher.

h) Few of the joys and satisfactions as a teacher?

When my students learn some thing in their computers class and try to apply the same during their assignments or trying to learn more by themselves as an extension of what ever is being taught to them in their classes, I feel satisfied and content.

j) Hopes for the childe you teach?

My students as I have mentioned are very much motivated to learn by doing and as I have shared my mini project plan with them , they are more tan willing to help in the task even no big read or award is offered. That means their motivation level is quite high it self and it will ultimately guide them in the future.

Activity 1.3-5 (allow 1 hour)


a) As a teacher I have to learn and go a long way of achieving the same which is achieved by my teachers. I am very much object oriented but still I have the option to be more flexible in order to achieve my goals (because my subject is an optional one) I ma free to make amendments in my planners and prolong my planning as much as is required. (according to the need of my students)

· Teaching:

My teaching is quite flexible and open in order to achieve 100 % result and 100 % understanding by my students. As teacher my responsibilities are huge but as a computer teacher I have dwell responsibility of fulfilling the requirements of my fellow teaching staff also. So some times I feel I became quite overburdened and exhausted as far as teaching is concern (as I am th only computer instructor) for ECD –III to class VIII. But then again my subject gives me a free hand of doing the practical and teaching the students skilled based techniques is a fun itself. My teaching is a sort of reflective as I sometimes learn from them.

· Students :

Students are motivated enough to learn more but some of them who are not given emphasized from their home (because of their parents’ attitude towards learning computers) create a hindrance sometimes but now gradually they are gaining interest through the entertaining part of computers (less technical i-e playing games, making presentations etc) and now the higher classes who were not interested in games once and chatting on the net are engrossed in making much constructive learning or making of blogs.

· Schooling:

My own schooling was in a very balanced environment where not only I have came across extremely motivated and friendly teachers who ultimately became my mentors.

· Professional Development :

As well as formal professional development is concern I am working on my ICT, so that reflects in all the activities and planning that I do in school. I have tries to bring a change in the minds of the people around me also to get motivated towards integration of ICT.

· Use of ICT for teaching, learning and professional development purpose:

Well as a computer teacher my responsibility includes working with computers. So all of my lessons are ultimately planned to achieve this goal and I also help all my fellow teachers to give such assignments to the students that make them learn and practice what ever theyr have learned in their computers classes. Say for example I taught my 6th class students to find synonyms of a meaning in Ms Word. Their English teacher came to lab at that very moment and in the next class they came along with a comprehension passage given in their language class and they did it using the synonyms option in Ms word. Not only this but I also discuss with the other subject teachers so that they can give the assignments considering the skills the students already know through Computer classes.



b) Patterns in Writing:

Well as I have understood this question that probably you need to know do I have a repetitive thing in my writing or repetitive query in my diary. Well I always have the
Grudge that because in our school computer is a non reward able subject, the concentration level of the students is some times not up to the mark.

c) what does your writing tell you about what you value?

My writing clearly states that I emphasis on the clear understanding of what ever I teach and I do value it , whether it takes a lot more time than planned. I can do this because I have been given a flexibility of having my own curriculum and free hand in my plannings.

d) Success and challenges:

Successes:
· My students are more satisfy with what ever is being taught to them.
· It gives me also a sense of completion because I feel it takes teaching and learning both to complete the cycle. And when the cycle is completed properly it actually makes a teacher contented. When I have to really sit and review my self I get the whole clear picture that whether my teaching was effective or not.
· I have become close to my students because through reflecting my self I can address those students who did not responded well.
· Now I am aware of my strengths and weaknesses along with proves and evidences and tries to over come it.

Challenges:

· A lot of time is required for this practice. One really has to sit in isolation then pnly you get the required results.
· For this reason one has to have peace of mind. Which is sometimes is unaffordable for a teacher specially. Because there are so many other things one your head.