In The Skillful Teacher, Chapter 2, "The Core Assumptions of Skillful Teaching" Brookfield describes three core assumptions made by instructors:
Of the three, the second one really resonates with me. As I have gained more experience I have come to see the value of good reflective practices. As Brookfield describes, Critical Reflection is the process by which we research the assumptions informing our practice by viewing these through four complementary lenses - the lenses of students'eyes, colleagues' perceptions, literature, and our own autobiography. (Brookfield, p.26)
Feedback from multiple sources like student surveys and feedback from other instructors in an informal, collegial setting can allow me to view my practice from an external perspective . Reading articles and trade journals can help me stay current and also offer insight into what I am doing compared to others. Finally, just sitting and writing about the events of the day and my thoughts on them allow me to add context and colour to the experiences. This reflection will help me to plan better lessons and think of new ways to enrich the learning experience for my students. Another way I have been able to jumpstart reflection on my attitudes and behaviours is to make a video recording of a class. Seeing myself in action can be cringe worthy if I focus on the minutiae but at the same time this can really provoke honest reflection. This should, in turn, make me a better practitioner in the classroom.
References
Brookfield, S. D. (2006). The Skillful Teacher: On Technique, Trust, and Responsiveness in the Classroom. John Wiley & Sons.
- Skillful Teaching is whatever makes students learn.
- Skillful Teachers adopt a critically reflective stance towards their practice.
- The most important knowledge skillful teachers used to do good work is a constant awareness of how students are experiencing their learning and perceiving teachers' actions. (Brookfield, p. 17)
Of the three, the second one really resonates with me. As I have gained more experience I have come to see the value of good reflective practices. As Brookfield describes, Critical Reflection is the process by which we research the assumptions informing our practice by viewing these through four complementary lenses - the lenses of students'eyes, colleagues' perceptions, literature, and our own autobiography. (Brookfield, p.26)
Feedback from multiple sources like student surveys and feedback from other instructors in an informal, collegial setting can allow me to view my practice from an external perspective . Reading articles and trade journals can help me stay current and also offer insight into what I am doing compared to others. Finally, just sitting and writing about the events of the day and my thoughts on them allow me to add context and colour to the experiences. This reflection will help me to plan better lessons and think of new ways to enrich the learning experience for my students. Another way I have been able to jumpstart reflection on my attitudes and behaviours is to make a video recording of a class. Seeing myself in action can be cringe worthy if I focus on the minutiae but at the same time this can really provoke honest reflection. This should, in turn, make me a better practitioner in the classroom.
References
Brookfield, S. D. (2006). The Skillful Teacher: On Technique, Trust, and Responsiveness in the Classroom. John Wiley & Sons.