Reflective Teaching: Practices, Theories, and a Development Plan

This essay delves into the concept of reflective teaching, emphasizing its importance in enhancing teaching methodologies and student learning experiences. It explores various theories of reflective practice, including Gibbs' Reflective Cycle and Schon's models of reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action, highlighting their benefits in professional development. The essay includes a personal reflective essay, a detailed action plan for skill development, and discusses the effectiveness of acquired knowledge and skills. It also addresses the use of technology to stay updated and the significance of sharing knowledge with colleagues, ultimately aiming to improve teaching practices and contribute to the growth of both the educator and the students.

Reflective Teaching

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
TASK-1............................................................................................................................................3
Meaning of reflective practices...................................................................................................3
Evaluation of Theories of reflective practice...............................................................................4
Benefits to practice of reflection in action and reflection on action............................................6
TASK-2............................................................................................................................................7
Reflective essay-..........................................................................................................................7
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................11
Development Plan......................................................................................................................11
Reflection...................................................................................................................................11
Action Plan................................................................................................................................12
Effectiveness of newly acquired knowledge and skills.............................................................13
Use of technologies in order to keep own practice up to date...................................................14
Importance of sharing knowledge, skills and improvements with colleagues..........................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Reflective teaching is a practice of teaching through which a teacher reflects upon its own
past actions in order to improve its methods of teaching for the purpose of providing enhanced
learning experience to the students within the classroom. There are basically two types of
reflective practices, namely, reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action. The present report
aims to cover the theories of reflective practices and analyse the benefits with respect to the types
of reflective practices. It discusses different types of tools used for the purpose of teaching.
Moreover, it determines the importance of feedbacks in order to formulate different forms of
reflective practices. It also includes an action plan for the purpose of recognising the skills
required for effective teaching.
MAIN BODY
TASK-1
CASE STUDY
Meaning of reflective practices
Reflective practice is defined as the continuous learning process for and individual. It
also refers to the ability of an individual to determine the values and beliefs regarding teaching
and learning and take measures for the career growth and also for the personal development of a
person. The reflective practices is linked to the the different concepts of teaching from the
experience and find ways in order to improve it(Motallebzadeh, et.al, 2018). With the
application of these practices will help in maximizing ability of an individual in effective
manner. Teacher is considered as the most important person which contributes in the
development of the students and also prepare for their future growth. For teacher it is the most
useful method for their personal development and also improvement through which they can
achieve the career growth. Through reflective practices, teachers are engaged In the learning
process which helps in improving their skills and learning which helps in their future
development. With the help of these practices, it will enhance their learning in professional field
and also in their career growth.
Reflective practices reflect upon increasing the effectiveness that an individual can earn
many thinks to increase their knowledge and for their personal development. With the help of
these practices it helps in identifying the strength and weaknesses and find measures make
improvements for the career growth(Gheith, and Aljaberi, 2018). With the help of reflective

practices an individual can achieve the better awareness about their strengths and weakness, past
knowledge that they have , skills and competencies they have to perform their work. Reflective
practices can be an effective tool in practice based professional learning where an individual can
learn from their past professional practices. With the help of these practices, an individual can
enhance their learning practices and also for their professional development.
If an individual wants to pursue career as teacher it is very important to identify the skills
and capabilities they have and through their past experience evaluate the areas to improve and
make improvements accordingly(Erdemir, and Yeşilçınar, 2021). In order to improve the
quality of life and become successful in their career it is necessary to make improvements using
effective tool. In reflection, the teacher focuses on improving the skill and knowledge in order to
convey better understanding to the students and learners . These practices helps in identifying the
issues by evaluating the past experience and work towards achieving those objectives which
helps in their career development. Effective teachers regularly work on making improvements in
their teaching and learning skills which helps in delivering quality education to the students and
learner. By learning new practices and techniques they can effectively improve their teaching
and also focus on achieving higher goals in the future. Apart from this and with the application
of the reflective practices, teachers can easily identify and evaluate the difficulties and
challenges in learning which can also affect their professional growth and development.
Evaluation of Theories of reflective practice
With the growth in the education system and various changes in the technology, various methods
have been introduced in learning which helps in enhancing the learning experience of the
students. It is necessary for the teachers to adopt new and effective theories which helps in
innovating new ideas and suggestion regarding the learning and teaching. The innovative
learning practices should be effective which helps in developing the minds and enhance the
learning power of the students. There are different models and theories of reflection which is
stated below:
Gibbs Reflective model
This model was developed by Graham Gibbs in 1988 which defines the structure to
learning from the various experiences. There are six stages involved in this type of reflective
model that assist in the process of reflection and future actions that is to be taken accordingly for
the professional development of an individual. The six elements are discussed below:

 Description: In the first stage of the Gibbs model, the teacher highlights their learning
experiences in depth (Markkanen, et.al, 2020). The information giving should include the
what happened, when and where did it happen, what was done , what was the outcome of
that practice, why someone has been present there and what are the expectation form the
respective experience. In order to grow in the future and also enhance the learning of the
students, it is necessary for the teachers need to state how they started their journey with
their practices and experience and improvement that they need to make in their teaching
methods. Feelings:At this stage, The teachers can determine their feelings before , during and after
the learning practices. It helps in determining there experiences and what were the things
due to which it helped in gaining more knowledge and skill. With the help of these
practices it will help to determine the current situation and experience about the teaching. Evaluation:At this stage, the teachers undertakes evaluation which helps the teachers to
determine and analyse bot the positive and negative aspects related to the teaching
experiences. At this stage, the teachers can easily identify what goes well and what does
not go well(Sekarwinahyu, et.al, , 2019). At this the teachers undertake self – evaluation
which helps in identifying their situation for professional development. Analysis: After understanding and evaluating the positive and negative aspects, then it is
important to determine the factors behind which will help teachers to make improvements
in those areas and generate positive outcome which helps in their professional
development. Conclusion: A this stage teachers can determine the skills that is required or what skills
they have achieved from the learning practices. Through this it will help teacher to
identify the areas or skills that is necessary to develop which will help in their
professional development. In order to achieve the goals and it is important to improve
the learning and teaching and also apply new methods that will help in moving towards
the goals. Action Plan:At this stage, teacher make necessary plans and strategies in order to
improve their learning experiences and the action that is to be taken for enhancing those
skills. This can include like attending training and development programs or seek advice

from the professionals which can help as a guidance and also assist in the improvement
of skill and knowledge.
Schon's reflective model
The other reflective theory is Schon's reflective model which is based on the concepts of
'reflection in action' and 'reflection on action'. Reflection on action includes reflecting the event
after its occurrence in order to know that how the previous knowledge and experience has
directed towards the experience that is achieved currently. Reflection in action: In this type of refection, the practices are performed at the time
during which the actual actions are being performed . These practices are carried out
during the present action rather than focusing on the future . Reflection in action is
considered as the efficient methods of reflection as it enable to react to the situation and
change during the time when event is happening(Wang, 2020). For example if the
teacher observes that the particular topic is not understood by the students than with the
help of this theory the understanding can be developed for better understanding of the
students. In this situation , teachers can understand and make various changes in order to
avoid the negative outcomes. With the help of reflection in action it helps to deal with the
surprising incidents that can take place during the learning environment.
 Reflection on action: This reflection is opposite to the reflection inaction and takes place
after the event has happened that is happens after the teaching lesson. According to this
the teacher can create new ideas that is needed to be made in the future in order to
enhance the learning experience of the students(Mulryan-Kyne, 2021). With the help of
this method , the educators applied this practice in their teaching experiences in order to
determine the various areas and reasons why students are facing difficulties and find
various ways in order to improve the learning knowledge of their students.
Benefits to practice of reflection in action and reflection on action
Both the methods are considered as the efficient method for analysing the situation and
finding ways in order to improve the learning experience and for improving the skills and
knowledge for the personal and professional development of an individual. It is observed that
reflection is considered as an important factor in enhancing the quality of life of an individual . It
helps to determine the strength and weakness of an individual and find alternatives in order to
improve it which helps in personal as well as professional development of a person. With the

help of reflective practice it helps the teacher to determine their learning and experience form
the past and find ways in order to improve it in order to deliver quality education and effective
learning of the students(Slade, et.al, 2019). The teacher can identify the actions to be taken with
the help of reflection in action and reflection on action. Reflection in action takes place during
the action and the action is taken taken immediately after analysing the points rather than making
changes in the future. Reflection in action is considered as an effective method of reflection a sit
allows to react and adjust the situation at the time it has taken place. In the context of teaching if
the teacher observes that the particular topic is not understood by the students then after
analysing this situation , teacher can find other methods which can be helpful for students. It also
helps in improving the quality of education of the students and helps in increasing their skill and
knowledge.
On the other hand reflection on action focuses on how the the practice can be developed
in the future after the lesson is taught to the students. In this situation the teacher can analyse the
situation outside the classroom and think over the situation and find ways in order to develop or
improve such situation for better understanding of the students. It helps an individual to give
wider options which helps in enhancing the learning and knowledge of an individual. It also
helps as a guidance for considering more areas for further development of an
individual(Kowalski, and Russell, 2020). With the help of these practices, and individual can
gain better understanding of the task assigned. It also helps in facilitating improvement of the
action in the learning environment. It also helps in developing the undertaking form the past
experience and aims at developing new strategies and plans in order to provide better
understanding and also enhancing the learning experience of an individual by enhancing their
knowledge and skills and also for personal development.
TASK-2
Reflective essay-
Current performance requirement
Teaching is a very dynamic practise in which there is always a scope of going for
improvement. I have evaluated my owns performance of teaching in order to address the areas
where I was not performing on the mark so can pave the way for further improvement. By using

reflective practise I have traced a few areas of my performance where I am having need to go for
improvement.
I need to go for learning digital tools of teaching, in the modern environment the teaching
profession is also getting digitalized. Teaching supportive tools like using online platforms,
digital apps for teaching, taking help of online sources these all will be enhancing my
performance results (Olaya Mesa, 2018.)
In teaching performance I found that my communication is restricted to some areas. The
role of parents and their feedbacks are quite prominent. So this is required in my performance to
expand my communication channel. I can discuss with the parents of the students so can know
their side and make changes in my performance.
For enhancing my teaching outcomes I need to make flipped classroom model a part of
my teaching. In this method students are given a brief understanding of the study material at
home and in the class it helps teacher to make them the content receptive, due to basic ideas of
the content they find it easy (Ashraf and Zolfaghari, 2018.)
Need to learn how to develop such environment which motivates students to put their
hundred percent efforts and also aids their teacher. I am required to learn it since overloads of
information makes students interest less and then the efforts of the teacher do not work
efficiently.
Improving my capacity to know about the skills or intelligence of the students which
ultimately makes them learn in the class. All the students can not learn in the same way or by
using same sources their intelligence is responsible for their learning process, so I need to
improve these skills.
Tools for reflective teaching-
Tools for reflective teaching refers to all those tools or techniques which help a teacher in
its reflective teaching practice. By using these tools a teacher may inculcate improvement in its
practices. I generally use a range of such tools to improve my practices.
I use sticky notes (Kheirzadeh and Sistani, 2018.) while teaching or while planning for
teaching. It helps to record those perils or the areas of improvement in my teaching practice also

if I have something new to make part of my teaching. Such notes can be attached at any such
place which helps in reminding the improvements.
Check list is one another such tool. Such list helps to know the areas where I am weak.
Generally I mark up it after a certain period. It gives better idea of the reflections and aids to
know where I need to improve or where I am performing well. This list is comprehensive yet
after reflections I add on something new to it for further improvement.
Suggestion box is one of the most comprehensive tool. Just identifying owns mistakes is
a little complicated act and a person may get misled by the sense of bias, so I use this tool for my
reflection teaching. This tool helps to know the side of the students so can make changes in my
teaching practice and improve the skills.
Open ended questionnaire (Batman and Saka, 2021) is also one of the most influencing
tool. I give black paper to the students with the questions I want to know. They are instructed to
answer to full length as per their side. They are having just word limit otherwise they may write
as they want. It helps to know more about my teaching reflections.
So I use these all different tools of reflective teaching so can make needed changes in my
teaching practice and eradicate all those perils or jeopardies in my practices.
Importance of using feedbacks from different sources-
For a teacher feedbacks are key source of reflective practice. By using feedbacks from a
range of sources a teacher can perceive that in which areas he is needed to go for corrections or
improvement. For this purpose I use feedbacks from many such sources who are sharing their
interests with my teaching to some way or the other.
I mainly pay my attention to the feedbacks of my students (Pow and Lai, 2021.) Since
they are the ones who are directly getting impacted by my practises, and they are the one of the
biggest stakeholder in my teaching practice, so their side is very chief to know. It helps to adjust
my teaching plan, technique or strategies as per their need. Their feedbacks help to eradicate
mall practices of my teaching practice.
I also use feedbacks of parents as well, since it is essential to know about their side. How
they judge my teaching skills, due to my teaching is there any positive change coming in their

kids or not. Or if not then how I can fulfil their expectations. So this is very important to sort out
the queries of the parents.
Sometimes students feel afraid to directly deliver their feedbacks to the teacher (Kong
and Shang, 2020) and I don't want such things happen to me. For this purpose at the end of the
month I ask them to write a report card of my teaching as a team or group which does not
disclose their personal identity. It helps to know those areas of my teaching which were not
shared by the students due to hesitation.
I keep asking about my teaching practices to the peers as well. They are the most
important stakeholders since they are having professional ideas and competences. Their ability to
evaluate teaching practice also helps me to improve my professional competence. They suggest
different ideas which may help me to hike my teaching efficiency and can reduce the errors I do
while teaching.
Feedbacks help to know different perspectives from different sources. It prevents rule of bias in
reflective teaching and a teacher can pave the way for better improvements by using these
feedbacks. It also helps to satisfy all the key stakeholders who get impacted by the practice
(Maharsi, 2018.)
Extent to which own practice is inclusive and promotes equality and diversity
The practice of teaching that I prefer within the classroom is reflection-on-action. With
the help of this method of teaching, I try to make my practice of teaching as inclusive as
possible. Inclusive practice of teaching refers to understanding the fact that each and every
individual that is present in the classroom is different and has its own level of understanding. For
the same, it is my responsibility to determine the needs of every student, find out the areas or
topics which troubles the students, identify the issues that they face with my teaching practices
and take steps in order to resolve their issues. In order to promote diversity and equality in my
classroom teaching practices, I make sure that the issues and troubles related to each and every
student in the classroom is addressed properly. In order to analyse my own actions, I ask for
feedbacks from the students with respect to their understandibility of the subject or referring to
my patterns of teaching. This helps in understanding their problems and develop ways which
help in resolving their issues (Ashwin, and et.al 2020. ). I try to teach within the classroom by
connecting the subject and topic with a few fun activities. This helps the students in
remembering important concepts easily.

I feel that diversity can help students in learning a lot from each other. When students from
diverse backgrounds sit together in a classroom, it develops their interactive and communication
skills within them as they learn to communicate effectively with each other irrespective of
different they are from each other. By constantly communicating with each other with the class,
they acknowledge the needs of other students and understands the value of cultures of other
people too. Therefore, I prefer to promote equality and diversity within my classroom as it helps
students in becoming empathetic. They learn to value the sentiments of other students because of
their race, caste, or cultural background. Therefore, I try to use make my practice of teaching
inclusive of diversity and equality. I try be aware all the times while teaching within the
classroom and refrain myself from making any statement that might hurt the sentiments of an
individual (Gupta, Shree, and Mishra, 2019). Moreover, I try to inculcate a learning attitude
within myself in order to constantly improve my teaching practice to provide the students with
enhanced learning experience.
TASK 3
Development Plan
Reflection
Teaching is very extraordinary profession that helps in setting the responsibilities and
duties towards the student. It plays very crucial role in life of students as it contributes in
teaching skills and enhance their knowledge. Since the role of the teacher is hard it is
important for them to develop various skills like communication, inter personnel, discussion
making leadership and many more in order to teach their students. Although through the
assessment I have learned that teacher need to have knowledge about every thing so that it can
teach their student effectively. In addition to this, it should also known how to collaborate with
students while teaching (Soodmand Afshar and Farahani, 2018). Along with this, during the
teaching I have analysed that my communication skill is good that has helped me in sharing my
thoughts and ideas to students as well as to resolve their problem. In addition to this, I have
evaluated that I have good confidence while speaking which helps in gaining the attention of the
audience. However, in teaching it is necessary for having a confidence as it helps in interacting
with other peers and subordinates. In addition to this, I have analysed that my decision-making
skill is not very good as I require lot of time in finding right solution for problem.

Although I need to work on this I need to go throw the situations in order to make
appropriate solution. As a teacher this skill is very important as it has to find out various
methods to teach the students so that it can learn things quickly. Moreover, my leadership skill
is also good but I still need to work on in order to make it right. I am able to guide my
students and helps them to accomplish their goals effectively. Although I also make the
environment happy by allowing my students interact with me and share their thoughts. This
lead in making healthy relation with them (Zahid and Khanam, 2019). I have also evaluated that
my inclusive teaching practice need to have more creative and problem solving skill so that I
can find innovative idea to solve the problem. In addition to this, I have evaluated that I need
to learn team building skill in order to connect students with each other.
Action Plan
What am I good at ? What I am not so good at?
While reflecting upon my skills and actions
as teacher, I have identified that I am good at
a number of skills. I have effective
communication and explanation skills as I try
to explain the concepts related to my subject
by linking them to fun activities. This helps
the students in remember the important
concepts without having much stress.
I m good at communication with others and
due to that I am able to gain the attention of
others (Oo and Habók, 2020). Similarly, I
have observed that I have good creative
thinking as I am able to create joyous plays
and activities which are connected to the
subject and guides the students for the same.
Whenever, there comes a conflicting situation
among the students that needs to be solved, I
make use my problem solving skills and try to
Throughout the reflection I have identified
that my motivation skill is not good and
due to that I always feel nervous while
teaching new subject to students. Along with
this, I have analysed that I find it difficulty
in identifying various ways to motivate
students. Along with this, I always make use
of the same strategy in order to increase the
moral by giving them good remarks.
Moreover, it does not work for each and
every student (Valdez, Navera and
Esteron,2019). I also need to focus on
improving team building skill as I m not
able to identify the qualities of students and
due to that right team is not formed. Along
with this, I wanna develop good decision-
making skill so that I can find right solution
for the issues faced. Moreover, with good