Reflection and reflexivity: linking these skills to classroom practice

Reflection and reflexivity are frequently used words in connection with professional and personal development. Often we think that what we are doing is reflective or reflexive, but is it really? Are we even sure of what these terms mean when related to our work in schools? Do we have a full appreciation of the fact that every staff member, including volunteers such as governors, can have their contribution enhanced by reflection and reflexivity?

If you want to go back to basics − and it is always worth doing this with CPD − try these practical tips:

• The best starting point is to ensure that you are all working from the same definitions. When the suggestion is made to reflect on professional learning, does everyone know what this will entail? It is useful to define reflection as being careful mental consideration or concentration, and reflexivity as being the ability to direct back on oneself. In the case of professional development, this means directing new learning back into one's professional practice.

• Encourage staff members to get into the habit of evaluating any CPD they undertake in terms of the impact it might have on their classroom practice and outcomes for pupils. Focusing on the CPD and its impact on learning isn't sufficient. The circle needs to be completed by reflecting back to what happens in the classroom and what might have an impact on teaching and learning.

• To be truly reflexive, professional learning must take account of the learner's self. There has to be some personalised link between the learning and the learner, otherwise the CPD remains abstract and the learner has no way of using it to further pupil outcomes and their own development. It's worth making this understanding a core part of your school's CPD policy.

• Don't shy away from the personal. Those who are reflecting on their professional learning without personalisation coming into play will be missing out on the full potential of their CPD.

• Aim to emphasise the contribution of reflection and reflexivity to self-awareness in working practices. This can also be an important basis on which to consider issues of accountability in work.

Over to you...

Do you overtly encourage reflection and reflexivity in your coordination of CPD in your school? Are staff at your school particularly adept at these skills? What do you think has contributed towards this? Post your comments below and we may feature you in a future issue of CPD Week.

Find out more

Click here to read about a school-based MA which incorporates reflexive learning and participant voice.

The new duty to promote community cohesion

The Education and Inspections Act 2006 contained within it a duty on all schools to promote community cohesion. This is an enormous task in the face of everything that conspires against such cohesion, including:

• social isolation

• inadequate and expensive housing

• too little focus on outside green spaces for the community

• insufficient community provision for young people.

There's no doubt that anyone within a school who is responsible for promoting community cohesion will need training in order to effectively carry out this duty.

In order to assist schools in meeting the requirements set down by the Act, the Department for Children, Schools and Families is supporting a series of regional conferences, primarily for headteachers and governors of primary and secondary schools, which will seek to explain how the new duty can be implemented. These conferences will help schools to promote qualities such as tolerance and respect and will offer the opportunity to share good practice.

Spaces on the conferences are on a first come first served basis so get in there early if your school needs assistance with this!

Find out more

To find out more about these conferences for relevant members of your school's team, click here.

Find out how history could help promote community cohesion click here.

This e-bulletin issue was first published in September 2007

About the author: Elizabeth Holmes is the author of CPD Week