This document summarizes research on reflective teaching and reflective practice among teachers. It defines reflection as a mental activity and chain of ideas in the mind. Several scholars are discussed who categorized reflection into different forms - technical, practical, and critical. Characteristics of reflective practitioners are also explored, such as being open-minded, responsible, and concerned with student learning. The study described used a case study methodology to examine the reflective practices of a beginning early childhood teacher in Hong Kong over 5 months.
Original Description:
a case study of a beginning early childhood teacher in Hong Kong
Original Title
reflective practice: a case study of a beginning early childhood teacher in Hong Kong
This document summarizes research on reflective teaching and reflective practice among teachers. It defines reflection as a mental activity and chain of ideas in the mind. Several scholars are discussed who categorized reflection into different forms - technical, practical, and critical. Characteristics of reflective practitioners are also explored, such as being open-minded, responsible, and concerned with student learning. The study described used a case study methodology to examine the reflective practices of a beginning early childhood teacher in Hong Kong over 5 months.
This document summarizes research on reflective teaching and reflective practice among teachers. It defines reflection as a mental activity and chain of ideas in the mind. Several scholars are discussed who categorized reflection into different forms - technical, practical, and critical. Characteristics of reflective practitioners are also explored, such as being open-minded, responsible, and concerned with student learning. The study described used a case study methodology to examine the reflective practices of a beginning early childhood teacher in Hong Kong over 5 months.
Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 Introduction Teaching has gradually become more complex and demanding, occurring in a complicated environment (Dolye, 1986; Shulman, 1987). Teacher education programs cannot prepare teachers for every situation they may encounter. It has been suggested that student-teachers and beginning teachers need more time to become thoughtful decision makers, to establish their teaching approaches and to consolidate their professional development. Many educators consider refective abilities desirable characteristics of teachers (Gore & Zeichner, 1991; Herrman & Sarracino, 1993). Reflective teaching has become a widely used term in current discussions about the nature of professional training. Reflective teaching approaches to professional training and Refective Practice: A Case Study of a Beginning Early Childhood Teacher in Hong Kong
TSUI King Yuk Anita
Department of Early Childhood Education The Hong Kong Institute of Education Abstract This study explores a beginning early childhood teachers reflective practices and looks for evidence of characteristics of a refective practitioner. The participant took part in a series of refective thinking activities over fve months. The fndings of this study revealed the participants refective practice in the following aspects: on students learning, teacher-students interaction and teaching behaviour. Most of her refections focused on technical and practical levels. The participant had the characteristic of a refective practitioner. Through this case study the author wishes to facilitate refective teaching by early childhood educators which in turn is expected to help improve the quality of their teaching, besides promoting refective practice among early childhood educators.
development have been associated with notions
of growth through critical enquiry, analysis and self-directed evaluation, and have sometimes been distinguished from behaviour, skills or craft apprenticeship approaches which emphasize the acquisition of pre-determined classroom practices (Zeichner, 1983). Thus, refection can be a tool for continued personal and professional development (Ottesen, 2007). Literature Review Refective Practice Though considerable research on reflection and reflective teaching among theoreticians, researchers and teacher educators has been conducted, there is no consensus with regard to the defnition of refection (Schon, 1991; Rodgers,
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67 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 2002; Admiraal & Webbels, 2005; Ottesen, 2007). Reflection, as a specialized form of thinking, has long been recognized as an influential factor that helps improve the quality of teaching (Dewey, 1933; Bowman & Stott, 1994; Hernandez, 2001). Dewey (1933/1997) initiated a whole new line of thinking on reflection. He characterized it as (i) a state of doubt; and (ii) an act of searching. He proposed that reflection involves not only a sequence of ideas but also a consequence. Shulman (1987) defned the process of refection as reviewing, reconstructing, enacting and critically analyzing ones own and the class performance. Dirkx (1989) considered the importance of self- improvement rather than the importance of moral, ethical and political issues. Van Manen (1991) asserted that reflection can take place only if teachers in general have the time to think about their teaching in terms of what was done, what could have been done and what should the next step be. Moon (1999), based on the above view, considered that the word refection implies a form of mental processing with a purpose and/or an anticipated outcome. In this study, reflection is a mental activity and a chain of ideas in the mind. Some scholars, however, have delineated different forms and types of refection. Van Manen (1977) proposed three forms of refective practice: technical refection, practical refection and critical reflection. Technical reflection focuses on the application of pedagogical knowledge and skills and of basic principles of the curriculum for attaining a given end; e.g., teaching content, teaching methods, management skills and subject matters. Practical refection involves the clarifcation of assumptions related to pedagogical goals and evaluation of consequences of a teaching action. This is derived from subjective perceptions of the situation and personal experience. Manen argued that critical refectivity is the highest and most desirable form of refection. Moral, ethical and political issues are considered together with the means and the ends. In this form of refection, teachers are concerned with the value of knowledge, educational purposes, ends and aims. Reflective practice has been one of the most popular features of professional preparation programmes, especially in education (Nickel et. al., 2010). As such, in relation to teacher education programme, refection has several roles. Refection is the focus of continued professional development programmes (Moore, 2001). Many educators consider that reflective abilities are desirable characteristics of teachers (Gore and Zeichner, 1991; Herrmann and Sarracino, 1993). A study (Ottesen, 2007) of in-service teachers concluded that refection can be a tool for continued personal and professional development. Pultorak (1996), after a three-year qualitative research, proposed that teacher reflection is a developmental process and may be characteristic of beginning teachers. Cook (1993), after reviewing over 170 articles and papers on refection, concluded that no one has completely addressed developmental aspects of refection. Characteristics of Refective Practitioner Research on effective teaching indicates that relatively more effective teachers are often reflective thinkers (Callaghan, 2002; Edwards & Nicoll, 2006). The cultivation of reflective practitioner has become a major goal of many teacher education programmes (Chetcuti, 2002). Earlier, Dewey (1933/1997) indicated three attitudes to be prerequisites for reflective action. The first is open-mindedness, an active desire to listen to more sides than one (p. 29), and the second prerequisite is responsibility, which refers to careful consideration of consequences of a particular action. Finally, Dewey (1933/1997) referred to wholeheartedness, according to which individuals should be willing to take a risk and put their ideals into practice. These prerequisites are t he cornerst ones of t eacher refl ect i on. Researchers in America have begun to develop what they claim to be a set of critical attributes of reflection in an effort to distinguish reflective teachers from their less reflective colleagues (Day, 1933). Numerous scholars have highlighted their respective versions of characteristics of reflective practitioners. Calderhead (1992) said becoming a reflective teacher may be considered to be a matter of critically examining ones own and others educational beliefs, and developing a coherent, articulated view of teaching and
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68 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 learning. It is expected that refective teachers take personal, social, ethical and political factors into consideration. Reflective teachers should be as concerned with student learning as with their own (Capel et al., 1995). Cruickshank, Bainer & Metcalf (1999) took a similar view, claiming that refective practitioners purposefully deliberate or reflect on teaching; they are open-minded, freely questioning their own views and reactions to their teaching practices; they consider and accept responsibility for the consequences of the decisions; and they are enthusiastic and eagerly focus on ways to improve their teaching. Laker (2001) indicated the following characteristics of refective teachers: (i) those who look back on their work, their teaching and their pupils learning and reconstruct what happened and why; and (ii) propose alternatives and take into account the social, moral and political contexts that surround their teaching and schooling. This echoes Deweys perception of the refective practitioner: a person open-minded, responsible and trustworthy. Methodology This study used a case study design, providing a detailed account and analysis of one single case (Merrian, 1988). This study adopted an interpretive approach to explore a beginning early childhood teachers reflective practice. The main purpose of an interpretive approach is to understand the participants world. Human activity in specific situations, from participants perspectives, is examined (Hatch, 2002). Interactions between researchers and participants create fndings using predominantly qualitative methods. Thick and detailed description is used to bring the contexts and meanings of participants lives and behaviours to readers (Patton, 1990). Participant A beginning early childhood teacher with less than three years teaching experience was invited to take part in this study (Table 1). The participant completed a 3-Year (Full-time) Teacher Certifcate in Early Childhood Education Programme. After graduation she taught in a non-profit making kindergarten. The researcher extended an invitation to recent Teacher Certificate graduates, briefly describing the study and soliciting volunteers. The background, purposes and procedures of the project were explained to the volunteers. All participants were required to sign an informed consent form indicating that they had agreed to participate in and been informed about the study. All participants were informed of their right to withdraw their Table 1: Background of the Selected Beginning Teacher Selected Teachers Name Teacher C Sex Female Years of teaching experience 2.5 Qualifcations 3-years (Full-time) Teacher Certifcate in Early Childhood Education Course Teachers daily refectivity before participating in this study Sometimes refects Teachers attitude towards participating in this study and availability Willing to participate and available School location A newly developed town in the New Territories in a lower & middle class area School history 11 years Type of school Non-proft Students background Low and middle class families School support towards refective activity Moderate
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69 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 consent and discontinue participation at any time, and it was guaranteed that all findings would be confdential. Data Gathering A series of refective thinking activities were conducted in this study (Table 2). These refective thinking activities took the form of journal writing, interviews and workshops. Three objectives were achieved: (1) to enable participant to become a (more) reflective early childhood teacher; (2) to enhance participants refection; and (3) to provide time and opportunity for the participant to reflect on her teaching. Each interview lasted for about an hour and was audio-taped. The interviews were the sources of information for analysis of data. Journal writing was used to enhance student teachers reflection during field experience placements (Bain et al., 1999). Reflective journals allowed participants time to stop and think about practising (Regan, 2008). In this study, the participant wrote a reflective journal and then the researcher interviewed the participant based on the journal she wrote. In this way, the chance of imposing personal views of the researcher was minimized. Analysis of Data First, all the raw data (words, documents and transcripts) were transcribed and translated into English. Second, the researcher went through transcripts and texts and made comments in the margins alongside the data. Findings were merged in the form of themes and patterns. Further Refections on Methodology For pragmatic reasons, the data collection took place over a relatively short period of time (5 months). Yet, the participant, Teacher C, suggested that following further reflection, she wished to implement changes into her teaching in the following academic year. Thus, the duration of data collection was not suffcient for observing devel opment of t he deep change. Anot her limitation in data collection that must be noted was that the researcher should have collected as much information as possible from the participants colleagues and the principal in order to register other representations and interpretations of the situation, to avoid bias. Empirical evidence about reflection in early Table 2: Summary of the Data Gathering Process Interventions / Activities from March to July Aims An Interview for Personal and School Information Background Information about the participants personal and professional development Submitted a piece of monthly Refective Journal (5 pieces) Encouraged teacher to refect on her teaching Monthly Reflective Thinking Interview (5 interviews) with researcher Participant wrote a reflective journal before interview and the researcher then interviews the participant based on the journal she wrote Encouraged to reflect on understanding of her teaching Reflective Thinking Workshop (a total of 4 workshops, including participant sharing after video lesson observation, view about refection and teaching, etc.) <See Appendix 1> Enhanced participants reflective ability and knowledge; To see whether participant was becoming more refective A Final In-depth Interview <See Appendix 2> To explore participants reflective practice and look for evidence of characteristics of the refective practitioner Overall aims were to encourage and understand the teachers refection.
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70 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 childhood education for beginning teachers is seriously underplayed in Hong Kong. The effects of reflective thinking activities used in this study deserve further discussion. School life is a busy life in Hong Kong and the participant was pre- occupied with various duties and further studies. It is suggested that the duration of data collection be at least one year. Also the effects of reflective thinking activities (journal writing, interview and workshop) used in this study also deserve further investigations and discussions in future studies. Findings In this study, it was found that Teacher C had made considerable reflection on student learning, made changes in her teaching behaviour, especially in her interactions with children. She became more child-centered. She refected more on her students abilities and interests, and was more aware of childrens feedback. It was claimed that Teacher C was an enthusiastic early childhood teacher eager to improve her teaching. In this study, there was evidence showing the participant had the characteristics of a refective practitioner. Refect on Student Learning Teacher C paid special attention to interests of learning, ability and responses of her students. She stressed that she gave her students room to express and learn through self-experiences and exploration. She said, Personally, it is extremely essential for the teacher to have a good understanding in knowing the interests and abilities of her students... (Reflective Journal II, & Reflective Thinking Interview II, p.4) In her reflection on teaching, Teacher C mentioned that her students were interested in trains. For example, Students were very interested in trains. One of the students pointed to the picture of a big train and said, I ride on a train before. Another student remarked, Trains in the old days were not like these. The teacher then asked, What do you think about the trains that you know? Having heard this question, more students began to talk about different trains. Eventually, the teacher decided to take her students to visit the Railway Museum. (Refective Journal II & Refective Thinking Interview II, p.5) The above example shows that Teacher C considered students interests seriously. In fact, the Railway Museum is quite far away from the school. The travelling time from the school to the museum was about one hour. Furthermore, Teacher C indicated that her students need to learn through self-exploration. The following segment was recorded. When I talk about how to protect eggs using suitable methods, I provide many guidelines and express different views in a direct manner. However, the students need to learn things through their self experiences... However, it is still a good chance for them to learn if they could find out the reasons behind, and are eager to try out better protection methods. (Reflective Journal III & Reflective Thinking Interview III, p.5). Teacher C considered that she should let her students think of better methods. She further pointed out: Sometimes, when the students were working for exhibitions and competitions, or when we have to get their works distributed to their parents, I always talk too much to the students during these activities and the process of production. This limits the creativity of my students because they follow instructions rather than using their talent. (Refective Journal III & Refective Thinking Interview III, p. 15-16). Refect on Interaction with Students Teacher C was more child centered. She thought about the childrens behaviours and reactions in the classroom. I didnt have time to chat with them in
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71 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 order to know more about what they think. Recently, because of this reason, I had caused a student to be heart-broken and it also affected the relationship between us. One day, a girl brought me some photos after fnishing her homework. She walked towards me and showed me some photos. She wanted to share her happiest moment on a day she had fun in a park with her parents. At that time, I said, Im now teaching children to write characters. Can I see them later? She then went back to her seat and she did come again and again. She approached me three times but I gave her the same answer by refusing to see the pictures (Reflective Journal III & Reflective Thinking Interview III, p. 9). She further shared: Eventually, she did not come again and then shared those photos with other classmates... I walked next to her and asked her to share the pictures with me. And she replied, its fine. You dont have time. You dont want to see it. At that moment, I knew that she felt upset. Then, I tried my best to explain everything to her. I really wanted to take a look at those photos. But I was busy with your classmates at that time. After a while, she shared her feelings about the pictures with me. (Refective Journal III & Refective Thinking Interview III, p. 11). Teacher C quoted another example. I had mentioned that the time for activities was so tight every day. We had to finish everything in a rush One day, a parent brought her child to me because the child had got a few bruises on his arm I asked him, Why didnt you tell your teacher that you fell down somewhere? The child replied, No, I didnt tell my teacher about that. His mum then asked her, Why didnt you? In class, children like to report and yell for teachers over minor problems. The child spoke in a mature tone. Teacher is very busy. She has got lots of things to do. And I didnt interrupt her. (Reflective Journal IV & Reflective Thinking Interview IV, p. 6). Teacher C said, I will not say Im now busy now anymore. But I will tell them, Please wait for a few seconds. (Refective Journal IV & Refective Thinking Interview IV, p 8). I always say Please wait when the children ask for my attention. They have also learned to say Please wait When some children put up their hands, signalling that they have finished their homework, another child will say, Please wait In reality, they signal other things. Do I say Please wait so many times to the children in class? (Reflective Journal IV & Refective Thinking Interview IV, p. 9). As is evident from the above reflection, Teacher C treasured the sharing and interaction with her students. Refect on Teaching Performance In addition, Teacher C was more aware of her teaching performance and behaviour. She pointed out that there were changes in her teaching. She highlighted an example. Today, I praised student A and I said, You drew a wonderful picture. And I never imagined that student B would say. I dont understand why it is wonderful! At that time, I thought, Student B was very impolite by saying something like this. (Refective Journal V & Refective Thinking Interview V, p.3). Thinking it carefully again and again, I partially agreed that his comment was reasonable. When I made my comment on Student As picture, my words were not concrete enough. I just generally said that his picture was wonderful. But I did not mention why I thought his picture was wonderful. For example, I should have said the picture is wonderful for its overall structure, colour or creativity. (Refective Journal V & Refective Thinking Interview V, p. 4)
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72 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 This incident leads me to recall how I praised the children before. Sometimes, my praise was not clear and detailed enough... if teachers can point out their praises more precisely, children will definitely know more about their own merits. (Refective Journal IV & Refective Thinking Interview V, p. 8). At the end of the project, Teacher C emphasized that reflection is very significant to her and fellow teachers: Refection is certainly very signifcant to us. As for a teacher, no matter what stages he/ she is in, or whether he/she is a beginning or experienced teacher, he/she also has to improve himself/herself in different stages in his/her time Personally, teachers need refection, and I have mentioned it. I need to improve myself. (Final In-depth Interview, p. 3). Teacher C commented that there were some impacts on her refection after participating in this project. In her own words: The reason why I have to change myself i s t hat t he refl ect i on I di d before was not as precise as the one I did during the participation in this project. In the past, I remembered part by part what I had done. Or I just freely wrote down the key points in my note book. To me, at that time, this was called refection. However, after participating in this project, I have to write all the things in detail. I have to write and think at the same time. So everything makes a deeper impression on my mind we do observe children closely. (Final In-depth Interview, p. 8). Having participated in this study, Teacher C amended her teaching and learning skills to the best of her ability, and has become more professional due to her personal refection. Yes, I do see something bad in my teaching sometimes, and I remind myself not to have it happen again. During the lessons, the tone I use to chat with children, or the vocabulary I use in questions and answers, or the way I handle the confictor the way they take care of lifeor arrange each of these aspects in a better way. (Final In-depth Interview, p. 5). Finally, Teacher C suggested that more sharing with others (partner / colleagues) could improve their teaching. I would like to talk about this with other people. When doing the reflection on my own, if there is another one defnitely. My partner in the classroom will tell me about his/ her ideas. We may have different views on an issue, and in some cases our views may be very different. She will think of it in one way, and I will think of it in another way. When having different ideas, we will try to think thoroughly to work for the best of it. (Final In- depth Interview, p. 15). Teacher C also recommended that reflection should be done at a regular time. It seems that reflection should be done regularly at a certain time....a teacher who does everything that she promises to do can refect at any time. However, if her workload is increased, her mind will then be slightly affected. Shortly afterwards, she will gradually decrease the time spent for reflection if her work has not been running so smoothly. She will do her reflection only if she encounters diffculties that are hard to tackle. As for me, everyone knows the way of thinking and is likely to fnd out where the problem is. (Final In-depth Interview, p. 20) Discussions Before this study, Teacher C would and could reflect only occasionally. It was shown that her reflective thinking changed gradually as she participated in the study. The scope of her refection broadened and she refected in greater detail on her students learning, relationships with and between students and her teaching performance. Most of her
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73 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 reflective thinking functioned at a technical level, on the application of pedagogical knowledge and skills for attaining a given end (Van Manen, 1977). For example: teaching content, teaching behaviours and students abilities and needs. Furthermore, she refected on clarifcations of assumptions related to teaching goals and evaluation of consequences of a teaching action. As the study proceeded, Teacher C was not confined to a technical level anymore; she also reflected on a practical level. She analyzed her lessons related to teaching goals and evaluation of consequences of a teaching action (more aware of her teaching behaviour and its significance). This level derives from subjective perceptions of the situation and personal experience. Previous studies (Lawson, 1989; Baptiste & Sheerer, 1997) have suggested that beginning teachers focus their reflection on technical level as they need to survive the transition from being students to being teachers; many beginning teachers fail in the course of transition. However, it is of interest to note that teacher C had a significant part of her reflection at the practical level. It is worthwhile to further investigate the factors that helped her to advance in the hierarchy of refective thinking. It was interpreted that Teacher Cs past learning experience in primary and secondary studies was with a noticeable emphasis. She wanted her students to be able to think. This study revealed that Teacher C had a clear and specific teaching goal, to help her students become persons who could think. She wanted to achieve this teaching goal. The goal propelled her to use reflective teaching to accomplish this goal. Through refection to achieve the goal is one of the characteristics of a reflective teacher. Moon (1999) and Rodgens (2002) have emphasized that we reflect for a purpose. The participant had a passion that came from deep inside her heart. She gave herself a clear direction and she knew the goal she wanted to achieve; to learn how to think through encouraging and helping her students to think and giving them a sense of self-initiation. She wished to train them to become persons who could think. Her role was to impact knowledge but to scaffold students in their learning and facilitating their growth. She was not a knowledge reproducer, rather a scaffold person and a promoter to help the students learn and grow. She used reflective teaching to achieve this goal. Teacher C had met teachers she considered good at different times in her preschool and these good teachers had greatly infuenced her attitude towards early childhood teaching, nudging her in the positive directions. She admired her teachers and consciously or unconsciously wanted to become a good teacher like them. These teachers had become role models for her to follow. This was her common goal and achieving this became a driving force that pressed her to improve. The study indicated that Teacher C accepted suggestions and criticism from her students. Calderhead (1992) said becoming a reflective teacher is considered to be a matter of critically examining ones own and others educational beliefs, and developing a coherent, articulated view of teaching and learning. In other words, the characteristics of a reflective teacher are self- criticize ones teaching, actively and consistently review, in detail, ones own teaching behaviour, and accept the views of her students. From the interaction between the teacher and the students, as well as her teaching behaviour, it can be seen that the teacher cared for learning and development of her students. Reflective teachers should be as concerned with learning of students as with their own (Capel, Leask and Turner, 1995). Researchers (Cruickshank, Bainer & Metcalf, 1999; Laker 2001) take a similar view, claiming that refective practitioners share certain characteristics. They purposefully deliberate or refect on teaching; they are open-minded, freely questioning their own views and reactions to their teaching practices; they consider and accept responsibility for the consequences of their decisions; and they are enthusiastic and eagerly focus on ways to improve their teaching. Based on the literature and research in this field, it is generally agreed that reflective teachers are those who are able to analyze their own practice and the contexts in which it occurs. They are expected to be able to stand back from
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74 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 their own teaching, evaluate their situations, and take responsibility for their own actions. This study concluded that Teacher C possesses a reflective practitioners characteristics. She could reflect on her teaching, ultimately for self- improvement. She could reflect on or review her actions. She displayed self-awareness and strives towards self-improvement. She possesses open- mindedness, responsibility and whole-heartedness. All these should be enduring characteristics of the behaviour rather than simply surface level attitudes of mind. Being reflective practitioners, teachers should comfortably engage in the mental activity of reflection and relate more strongly to the characteristics of refective persons, rather than to habitual use of refection as a mental tool. This echoes Dewey (1933/1997): refective teachers look at classroom problems from many perspectives and especially from those of their students. Conclusions and Implications From the study, it was observed that Teacher C displayed reflective thinking in her teaching. Most of the refection mainly focused at technical level and a few functioned at practical level. Some changes in her teaching performance were revealed after a series of reflective thinking activities. She could analyze her teaching activities and the details of what had happened, and looked back on her teaching and evaluated her own situation and learning of her students. These had positive effects on her teaching and her students learning. Teacher C was an eager learner, and this was the driving force behind her continuous self-improvement in teaching. This study indicated that Teacher C had the characteristics of a refective practitioner. These characteristics included having passion in teaching aiming at improving the quality of teaching and learning. Refective abilities are desirable characteristics of teachers (Herrmann and Sarracino, 1993; Chetcuti, 2002); reflection can be a tool for continued personal and professional development (Ottesen, 2007). Early childhood educators and school administrators should take further actions to allow teachers to engage in regular reflections. Even though early childhood teachers in Hong Kong are very busy in their daily working schedules and duties, it is of importance for them to have a regular time for reflection and sharing with others (colleagues). The researcher concurs with Dewey (1964, 1977) in that refection does not occur naturally. Thus, it is suggested that refection should be explicitly taught in teacher education programmes and school st aff devel opment programmes. If refection is used properly, it leads to learning, more critical inquiry, intelligent living and fruitful living. Appendix 1: List out some Questions and Sharings from Refective Thinking Workshops 1. From your point of view, what does refection mean to you? 2. In your teaching experience, do you know when you refect on your teaching or anything related to your teaching? 3. Did you engage in any refection after class? 4. The researcher shares with the participant about refection: defnitions of refection, 5. What do you think about your teaching after observation of your lesson through video-taping? 6. Do you have anything more you want to share with me? Appendix 2: List out some Interview Questions from Final In-depth Interview 1. Do you think refection is important to you? If important, why? If not, why and how? 2. Are there any changes in your teaching after participating in this research project? 3. Have you ever thought that you will revise or change your teaching methods or strategies in the coming year?
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75 Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 10 No. 1 July 2011 4. Apart from refective teaching, what other things or factors help or improve your teaching? 5. Do you think that this project has enhanced your teaching? 6. What is an ideal and satisfying lesson? References Admiraal, W. & Wubbels, T. (2005). Multiple voices, multiple realities, what truth? Students teachers learning to reect in different paradigms, Teachers and Teaching: theory and practice, 11(3), 315-329. Baptiste, N. E. & Sheerer, M. (1997). Negotiating the challenges of the survival stage of professional development. Early Childhood Education Journal, 24(4), 265-7. Bain, J. et. al. (1999). Using journal writing to enhance student teachers reflectivity during field experience placements, Teachers and Teaching, 5, 51-73. Calderhead, J. (1992). The role of reection in learning to teach. In L. Valli (ed.). Refective Teacher Education: Cases and Critiques. pp. 139-148. New York: State University. Callaghan, K. (2002). Nurturing the enthusiasm and ideals of new teachers through reflective practice, Canadian Children (the journal of the Canadian Association for Young Children), 27 (1), Spring, 38-41. Capel, S., Leask, M. and Turner, T. (eds). (1995). Learning to teach in the secondary school: A companion to school experience. London: Routledge. Chetcuti, D. (2002). Becoming a reective practitioner. In C. Bezzina, A. Camilleri Grima, D. Purchase & R. Sultana (Eds). Inside secondary Schools: a Maltese reader (Malta, Indigobooks), 154-165. Cook, P. (1993). Defining reflective teaching: How has it been done for research? Paper presented at the Annual Association of Teacher Education Conference. Los Angeles. Cruickshank, D. R., Bainer, D. L. and Metcalf, K. K. (1999). The acting of teaching (2 nd eds). Boston: McGraw-Hill College. Day, C. (1993). Reection: A necessary but not sufcient condition for professional development. British Educational Research Journal, 19(1), 83-93. Dewey, J. (1933). How we think? Chicago: Regency. Dewey, J. (1964). Experience and education. New York: Collin books. Dewey, J. (1997). How we think? (Mineola, NY, Dover). Dirkx, J. M. (1989). Self-reflection in the clinical experience: Using group processes to improve practitioner- client relationship. Paper presented at the Conference of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco. Edwards, R. & Nicoll, K. (2006). Expertise, competence and reection in the rhetoric of professional development, British Educational Research Journal, 32(1), 115-131. Glaser, B. G. and Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine. Gore, J.M. and Zeichner, K. M. (1991). Action research and reective teaching in preservice teacher education: A case study from the United States. Teaching and Teacher Education. 7(2), 119-136. Hatch, J. A. (2002). Doing Qualitative research in education settings. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. Herrmann, B. A. and Scarracino, J. (1993). Restructuring preservice literacy methods course: Dilemmas and lessons learned. Journal of Teacher Education, 44(2), 96-106. Laker, A. (2001). Developing personal, social and moral education through physical education: A practical guide for teachers. London and New York: Routledge Falmer.
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The Hong Kong Institute of Education Library
For private study or research only. Not for publication or further reproduction.