Reflective and Reflexive Practice

Summary

The video script emphasizes the importance of reflective practice in teaching, highlighting its role in fostering equitable relationships with students. It starts from the moment of arrival in a field situation and continues throughout interactions with children. Reflective practice involves not just observing the environment but also self-reflection on one's actions and engagement. This approach helps teachers to avoid replicating power dynamics common in education, instead promoting a transformative, equal partnership with students that respects and understands each other, leading to a more equitable learning process.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Reflective practice is an ongoing process that begins the moment you enter a field situation and continues throughout your interactions with children.
• 🔍 It involves not just observing the physical environment but also introspecting on your actions and engagement with the children.
• 🗣️ Communication with children is a critical part of reflective practice, as it influences their responses and interactions with you.
• 🔄 Reflective practice is reflexive, meaning it happens in the midst of interactions and has an impact on both you and the children.
• 👶 Engaging with children as equals, rather than exerting authority, helps in establishing a transformative relationship that is beneficial for learning.
• 👥 Reflective practice promotes equity by encouraging teachers to consider their power dynamics and interact with students on a more level playing field.
• 🌟 The process of equity is ongoing and requires continuous reflection to ensure that it is being effectively implemented in the learning environment.
• 💡 Reflective practice is essential for teachers to avoid replicating traditional power relationships often found in formal education contexts.
• 📚 It enables teachers to step back from their inherent authority and engage with students in a way that respects and understands them as individuals.
• 🛠️ Reflective practice is a tool for teachers to improve their teaching methods and foster a more equitable and effective learning experience.
• 🔑 The transformative nature of reflective practice lies in its ability to change both the teacher's approach and the student's engagement in the learning process.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the transcript?

The main focus of the transcript is on the concept of reflective practice in teaching, emphasizing its importance in engaging with students and fostering a transformative learning environment.

What does the speaker mean by 'reflective practice'?

Reflective practice, as described by the speaker, is an ongoing process of self-evaluation and consideration of one's actions and interactions with students, both during and after teaching activities.

How does the speaker define 'reflexive practice'?

Reflexive practice is defined as a dynamic interaction that not only involves reflecting on oneself but also influences and is influenced by the students, creating a reciprocal learning experience.

Why is reflective practice important in teaching?

Reflective practice is important in teaching because it helps teachers to avoid replicating power relationships typical in formal education, and instead engage with students as equals, fostering a more equitable learning process.

What role does reflective practice play in establishing a relationship with students?

Reflective practice plays a crucial role in establishing a relationship with students by allowing teachers to meet them face-to-face, respect them, and understand them as individuals, which is transformative for both parties.

How does the speaker describe the process of equity in education?

The speaker describes equity as a process rather than a goal, which requires continuous reflection and interaction with students to create an equitable learning environment.

What does the speaker suggest about the teacher's role in the classroom?

The speaker suggests that the teacher's role should be one of an equal partner with the students, where they engage in activities and conversations that are mutually beneficial and reflective.

How does the speaker relate reflective practice to the physical environment of the classroom?

The speaker relates reflective practice to the physical environment by mentioning the importance of observing and considering the classroom's physical features, such as posters and messages, as part of the reflective process.

What is the significance of the teacher's words according to the transcript?

According to the transcript, the teacher's words are significant because they can influence the students' responses and interactions, making them a crucial part of the reflective practice.

How does the speaker view the teacher's authority in the classroom?

The speaker views the teacher's authority as something that should be held back, encouraging teachers to engage with students as equals rather than exerting power over them.

What changes does the speaker suggest can occur over time through reflective practice?

The speaker suggests that reflective practice can lead to changes in the teacher's approach and interactions with students over time, as they continuously reflect on their practices and adapt to better meet the needs of their students.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Reflective Practice in Teaching

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of engaging in reflective practice throughout the teaching process. It starts from the moment of arrival in a field situation and involves continuous self-reflection on actions and interactions with students. The speaker highlights that reflective practice is not just about observing the environment but also about considering one's role and impact on students. It is a dynamic process that occurs during interactions and is essential for creating equitable relationships in the classroom, avoiding the replication of power dynamics often found in formal education. The goal is to engage with students as equals, respecting their individuality and fostering a transformative learning experience for both the teacher and the students.

Keywords

💡Reflective Practice

Reflective practice is a method of professional self-improvement that involves systematically thinking about what one does, why, and how it can be done better. In the context of the video, it is a continuous process that starts the moment one enters the field and involves observing and analyzing interactions with children. It is integral to the video's theme as it helps teachers to improve their teaching methods and build more equitable relationships with students.

💡Explicit

In the video, being 'explicit' refers to the clarity and intentionality with which reflective practice is conducted. It is about making one's actions and intentions clear to oneself and others, which is crucial for systematic reflective practice. The speaker emphasizes the need to be more explicit in reflective practice to ensure that it is effective and purposeful.

💡Systematic

Systematic in this context means doing something in a methodical and organized way. The video emphasizes the importance of being systematic in reflective practice to ensure that it is thorough and covers all aspects of the teaching process. This approach helps in identifying patterns, understanding dynamics, and making informed decisions.

💡Field Situation

A 'field situation' in the script refers to the real-world context where the teaching and learning are taking place, such as a classroom or an educational environment. It is a key setting for the video's narrative as it is where reflective practice is applied and observed.

💡Reflexive Practice

Reflexive practice, as mentioned in the video, is a form of self-reflection that is not just about thinking about oneself but also about how one's actions and words affect others, particularly in interactions with children. It is a dynamic process that occurs during the interactions and is essential for understanding the impact of one's teaching methods.

💡Interactions

Interactions in the video refer to the communicative and participatory exchanges between the teacher and the children. These interactions are a focal point for reflective and reflexive practice, as they are where the teacher can observe, respond, and adjust their teaching approach in real-time.

💡Authority

Authority in the context of the video is the power or control that a teacher inherently has over students due to their position. The speaker discusses the importance of not exerting this authority in a way that stifles the student's engagement but rather using it to create an equitable learning environment.

💡Equity

Equity in the video is presented as a process, not a goal, that involves creating a fair and just learning environment. It is achieved through reflective and reflexive practice, which allows teachers to challenge traditional power dynamics and engage with students as equals.

💡Engagement

Engagement in the video refers to the active participation and involvement of both the teacher and the students in the learning process. It is a key outcome of reflective and reflexive practice, as it fosters a more dynamic and interactive educational experience.

💡Transformative

The term 'transformative' in the video describes the change or improvement that occurs as a result of reflective and reflexive practice. It implies that both the teacher and the students are transformed through the process of engaging with each other as equals and challenging traditional educational norms.

💡Partnership

Partnership in the video script refers to the collaborative relationship between the teacher and the students. It is an equal and respectful dynamic that is established through reflective and reflexive practice, which is essential for creating an equitable learning environment.

Highlights

Reflective practice is essential from the moment you arrive in the field.

Children are also engaged in reflective practice during interactions.

The goal is to be more explicit and systematic in reflective practice.

Reflective practice involves observing the environment and one's actions within it.

It includes planning how to engage with children and what to say to them.

Reflective practice is reflexive, impacting both the practitioner and the children.

It occurs in the middle of interactions, not just as a post-activity review.

Every conversation and activity with children implicates the practitioner.

Engagement in reflective practice is a two-way street, involving both the teacher and the child.

Reflective practice helps avoid replicating power relationships in education.

It enables teachers to engage with children as equals, not exerting authority over them.

Respecting children as equals fosters a transformative relationship.

Reflective practice is crucial for establishing an equitable learning environment.

Equity is a process that requires continuous reflection and interaction.

Reflective practice leads to a transformative learning situation for both the teacher and the child.

The process of equity is not a goal but a continuous journey of reflection and partnership.

Transcripts

you use reflective

practice not just after you come from

the field and you start writing your

field note um you are engaged in

reflective practice while you're with

the kids all the time I mean everybody's

doing this the kids are engaged in

reflective practice as they're

interacting with you so uh our our goal

is to be more EXP explicit and to be

more systematic in that reflexive

practice and so it starts the moment you

arrive in a field

situation uh and uh uh and that

reflective practice is a matter not only

of standing in the

corner and watching what's happening in

the room or looking at the physical

features of the room seeing the posters

on the wall and the messages on the

Blackboard it's also reflecting on okay

what am I doing

here uh it's a it's what am I going to

do what how how do I engage with these

kids what do I say to them uh all those

are part of your reflective practice and

and and because what you say to the kids

is going to make a difference in terms

of what they say back to you so uh and

this is something that changes over time

I call it reflexive practice because

it's it's reflexive because it reflects

back on you as well as being reflective

and thinking about yourself it's not

just kind of uh standing back and

looking at yourself and thinking oh well

this is what I should have done or this

is what I should do uh it's it's really

reflexive in the sense that it

happens in the

middle of the interactions you're having

with the kids every conversation every

exch change every uh activity or task

that you're doing with computers with a

child is uh again it's implicating you

in that child's engagement in the

activity so you're both equally engaged

and reflexive and reflective practice

are important in teaching because it

enables the teacher to not

replicate the power

relationships that usually exist in

formal education

contexts uh it enables you to hold back

from

exerting

the uh Authority and power that you are

likely to have over a younger

person and to engage with that younger

person as an equal that doesn't mean

that you're letting them walk all over

you but it means that you're meeting

them face to face and respecting them uh

and figuring out exactly who they are

just as they're trying to figure out who

you are and in that process you

establish a kind of

relationship which uh is

transformative for for both of you you

it's transformative also for uh the

learning situation uh through your

reflection uh and through your

interaction your equal partnership with

the kids um it uh enables you uh to

create the process of equity and Equity

is not a it's not a goal Equity is a

process and and to to engage in that

process really

requires a lot of reflection on your

part