Activity 3: Reponses to Finaly's Article

Finlay discusses the meaning of reflective practice and gives different examples of what this looks like and the pros and cons of each. Ideas of professionals too often paying lip service to self reflection as a means of ticking boxes and are discussed as opposed to being done to genuinely change ones practice. Finlay also suggests that teachers who do not critically reflect on their practice become prone to making uninformed assumptions, interpretations, judgements and expectations. It is also discussed that these days reflective practice is actually a defining feature of ones competency which is why I can see more evidence of the need for it creeping into our profession. To me reflective practice makes sense and I only see the good points in it. At the end of each day I make a point of reflecting on the days events and working out what was done well and what could have been done better which is inline with Schons concept of reflection on action. I agree totally that by not reflecting critically we are not only selling ourselves short but our students short as well. 

Some of the theories discussed are.....

Grushka, Hinde-McLeod and Reynolds (2005)

Reflection FOR action

Reflection IN action and

Reflection ON action

Dewey
Reflective practice is a specialist form of thinking. We learn from doing and thinking problems out.

Atkins and Murphy (1993)
1: Awareness of uncomfy feelings and thoughts
2: Critical analysis of feelings and knowledge
3: Development of new perspectives.