The role of Reflective teaching in teacher education
Reflective
practice is used at both the pre-service and in-service levels of teaching.
Coaching and peer involvement are two aspects of reflective practice seen most
often at the pre-service level. In a 1993 study of how student teachers develop
the skills necessary for reflective teaching during their field experiences,
also, explores the role of the teacher educator as coach. Teacher educators
can most effectively coach student teachers in reflective practice by using
students' personal histories, dialogue journals, and small and large-group
discussions about their experiences to help students reflect upon and improve
their practices. Kettle and Sellars (1996) studied the development of third-
year teaching students. They analyzed the students' reflective writings and
interviewed them extensively about their reflective practices. They found that
the use of peer reflective groups encouraged student teachers to challenge
existing theories and their own preconceived views of teaching while modeling
for them a collaborative style of professional development that would be useful
throughout their teaching careers. They found that the student teachers by
practicing reflective teaching enables them to challenge existing theories and
their own preconceived views of teaching resulting in professional development
that would be useful throughout their teaching careers. Several research
studies have proved that critical reflection upon experience continues to be an
effective technique for professional development. Freidus (1997) describes a
case study of one teacher/graduate student struggling to make sense of her
beliefs and practices about what constitutes good teaching. Her initial
pedagogy for teaching was based on the traditions and practices of direct
teaching. Her traditional socialization into teaching made it difficult for her
to understand that her views of good teaching were being challenged in her
practice. After implementing reflective teaching technique in her classroom
enabled her to acknowledge and validate what she was learning.



