Reviewer for Principal on Instructional Leadership

GUIDELINES FOR REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

THEORETICAL BASES OF REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

              1. Experiential Learning Theory (Dewey and Piaget) - learning is most effectively and likely to lead to behavior change when it begins with experience, especially problematic experience (Osterman &Kottkampp, 2004)

               2. Problem - Based Learning ( Bridges, 1992) learning is most effective when the learner is actively involved in the learning process, when it takes place as a collaborative rather than isolated activity and in a context relevant to the learner. this dialectic and cyclical process consists of of four stages: Experience, observation and reflection, abstract Re-conceptualization and experimentation (Kolb, 1984)

STAGES IN THE REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

1. Identify a problematic situation

2. Reflect on the problem or experience- preferably in a collaborative,cooperative environment.
3. Consider alternative ways of thinking and acting,
4. Test the re-conceptualized behavior and assumptions.

DEFINITION OF REFLECTION

• Reflection is an umbrella word that we use to describe the way by which people learn from their experience.

• It is a way of processing experience in order to understand it, to give it meaning, to learn from it, to inform action and behavior.

• It is an automatic  human response to an experience.

• It is a process which tells you why.

IMPORTANCE OF REFLECTION & THE REFLECTION PROCESS

1. Until I know why, I would not have learnt.

2. The reflection process is one way that a person can learn how to identify his own destination.

3. The reflection process enables a person to figure out his own strategies for getting 

     to his destination.

4. The reflection process stresses the importance of OWNERSHIP for the change we want to 

     bring about the change. Our destination and how we are going to get there must be really ours...

     "sariling atin"

5. The Reflection process builds on and enhances one's capacity to take ownership for one's life.

     It is a "growth tool."

6. The reflection process is a tool which can be used by the individual or groups to enhance 

     the quality of life.. It help us set our own directions and to our own planning 

     to achieve our own goals.

7. Reflection draws out our creativity.

LEARNING OUTCOMES OF REFLECTION

Reflection is not solely a retrospective method of making sense of and maximizing the potential for

learning from experience. It is a source of learning in its own right. Through the process of reflection, people learn about;

1. Their capacity for openness.

2. Their capacity for learning from experience.

3. Their capacity for independent learning.

Source: National Educators Academy of the Philippines 

              INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP for school Heads