The reflective practitioner

Abstract

This chapter aims to help the readers develop their understanding of and capacity for, reflection. Reflection has been described by Loughran as 'the deliberate and purposeful act of thinking which centres on ways of responding to problem situations in teaching and learning'. The importance of reflecting on what the readers are doing as part of learning process has been emphasised by many educational theorists. Reflection in action takes place within the context of an ongoing lesson and involves monitoring the class by observing pupils as they work on given tasks in a specific situation and environment, to judge whether the intended learning outcomes are being achieved. Reflection on action is usually undertaken once the readers have taught a lesson and/or series of lessons (a unit of work). The purpose, rationale and justification for all of this reflection is to improve the effectiveness of the readers teaching in order to maximise the learning opportunities that they provide for all their pupils.