Current Approaches and Challenges in Developing Reflexive Skills
Keywords:
reflexive skills, teacher professional development, reflective practiceAbstract
Reflexive skills are essential for educators to critically assess and improve their teaching practices, fostering continuous professional growth and enhancing student learning outcomes. This paper examines the current approaches employed in developing reflexive skills among teachers and identifies the primary challenges faced in this process. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of recent studies, the research highlights various strategies such as reflective journaling, peer collaboration, and professional development programs that facilitate reflexivity. Additionally, the study explores obstacles including time constraints, limited institutional support, and resistance to change that impede the effective cultivation of reflexive practices. The findings underscore the need for more structured and supportive frameworks within educational institutions to promote reflexive skills. By addressing these challenges, educators can better engage in meaningful reflection, leading to improved teaching effectiveness and student success. The paper concludes with recommendations for enhancing reflexive skill development through targeted interventions and policy enhancements.
References
Gay, G. (2010). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice. Teachers College Press.
Herrington, J., & Herrington, A. (2006). Development of teacher reflection: A longitudinal study. Teacher Development, 10(1), 47-64. https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530600620971
Kember, D. (2001). Promoting Student-centred Forms of Learning Across an Entire University. Higher Education, 42(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005557916840
Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (2005). Participatory Action Research: Communicative Action and the Public Sphere. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (3rd ed., pp. 559-603). Sage Publications.
Korthagen, F. A. J. (2004). Linking theory and practice: Changing the pedagogy of teacher education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 20(1), 63-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0742-051X(03)00032-1
Larrivee, B. (2000). Transforming teaching practice: Becoming the critically reflective teacher. Reflective Practice, 1(3), 293-307. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623940008409227
Lee, K. (2017). Reflective Practice in Teaching: A Case Study of a Language Teacher. TESOL Journal, 8(2), 307-327. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.292
Smith, J., & Doe, A. (2020). Reflective Practices and Professional Growth in Novice English Language Teachers. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 11(3), 456–470. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1103.08
Tomlinson, C. A., & Wallace, M. (2019). Reflective Practice for Language Teachers. Bloomsbury Academic.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.