Reflective Practice and Professional Development

About the Book

The connections between reflective practice and professional development are the focus for this book, which offers guidance to support lasting change and provides strategies to enable self-initiated professional development.

The book includes:

- traditional approaches to reflective practice

- how to enhance the effectiveness of reflective practice

- putting reflective practice in context

- how reflective practice can improve attainment for students and staff

- an Appendix of useful resources.

With case studies and examples of relective practice from trainee teachers and from students studying across a range of Education courses, this book equips the reader to develop their own reflective practice framework. Relevant also to practitioners working across the children's workforce, it encourages personal and professional development for the whole range of professionals working in education and care.

Peter Tarrant is a Teaching Fellow at the Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh.

Table of Contents:
What Is Reflective Practice? What Does Reflective Practice Look Like? How Can We Make Reflective Practice More Effective? The Challenges, Benefits and Possible Solutions to Using Reflection in a Professional Context How Does Reflective Practice Fit into the ′Big Picture?′ What Do Teachers and Students Think of ′Peer Learning Interactions′ Reflective Practice for Children and Young People How Do We Support Putting Reflections into Practice? Reflecting on Reflections: Reflections On Reflecting Appendices

About the Author :
Peter Tarrant is a Teaching Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, where he has worked for the last five years. He is responsible for the organisation and running of a number of course for Initial Teacher Education. He lectures in Practicum, Professional Studies, Learning Behaviour and Languages and Literacy. He is also responsible for developing Professional Reflection for students on the Bachelor of Education and the Post Graduate Diploma in Education courses.

Review :
′A welcome text that explores the importance of reflective practice in teacher training and related disciplines. The author shows us the challenges for students in learning how and why we reflect and the potential for embedding reflective practice in everyday professional actions′
-Cyndy Hawkin, Senior Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University

′It is so easy to read and certainly not one which is drowned in academic tone (such a relief!). It is very practical and I read it nodding my head as I agree with so many points. At a CAT session on Friday the probation teacher in my school was saying how useful it was for him too. The school I am in are using the reflective questions in your book to help form their weekly evaluations and are starting to implement a ′peer learning′ type situation where two members of staff will be paired up to support one another in being more reflective of their practice. It is certainly a book I would recommend (and I have!) to other students′
-Suzie Kerr, Student, University of Edinburgh

Clearly written; very well-referenced; includes a set of 10 photocopiable handouts/worksheets – some for use by teachers, some by pupils. Anyone wanting to learn about RP from scratch would do well to read this book first.

A very interesting read which will allow professionals to reflect upon their practice. This book encourages reflection on practice and professional development. It was very applicable to my early years students who recognised themes in common with their own professional practice. The particular focus on skills development and critical exercises were useful and easy to apply in a classroom context. The material in the appendices would be useful for students to adapt to their reflection and the development of follow-up action plans. A useful guide for experienced and those new to reflective practice. User friendly easy access, suitable for mature students not used to engaging in reflective practices. Gives students something to work with, without having to trawl through unnecessary, overly complicated discussions. Nice and practical A very interactive text that has an engaging layout. A useful text that offers an opportunity to develop understanding of the topic I felt this was more closely aligned to the needs of teachers (as it says it is - but sometimes things have relevance across artificial professional boundaries) and as such perhaps less relevant for us (psychologists)

Still, I think the realist standpoint is a healthy one, with its acknowledgement of the imperfections of the world in which professionals work.

I was confused by some of the writing on ′coaching′ and its relation to the ′expert′ role - especially if coaching is a form of ′pull′ - see p27ff Key concepts have been presented logically, the challenges faced by many practitioners when engaging in the reflective process and developing core skills are clearly presented. The chapter overview, questions to be considered and the use of case studies encourages the student to test their knowlede and develop independant independant learning A useful textbook for staff to develop their own skills and knowledge. A thorough in depth book. Essential reading for those wishing to improve their teaching through reflection This text places reflective practice in its rightful place- as a fundamental part of the teaching, learning and assessment cycle. I have recommended this text for use with student teachers but it would be equally beneficial for current practitioners and NQTs. This will prove a really useful text. Pragmatic approach - useful ′how to′ information for students backed up with relevant theory. Links with practice and PDP for students. Excellent text on performance reflection, however only partly relevant due to delivery in an alternate field. Recommended as a supplementary text. Provides an overview of the field. Very much recommended Does not really fit with the course for the students at the college. An excellent book though for aspiring teachers. This is a really well written and easy to read book. A very good book for year 1 and 2 undergraduates. It provides a comprehensive overview of a range of theory with useful ideas as to how reflective practice can support the identification and meeting of professional development targets. There are well designed activities for students to work through and my students have found the case studies very useful. probably at too high a level for BA undergraduates. Really aimed at those in / planning to join the education profession useful background reading for Masters students in sport development/coaching A thought-provoking text, which will help students make reflection an ongoing feature of their professional development. I feel this draws the reflective process into an engaging read for both students and professionals alike. The author delivers challenges for the student and how the professionals can embed reflective practice good and adopted This author takes a broad approach to reflection across a number of professions including teaching. I think is could have been better linking values to professional practice via reflection. This book draws together many reflective strands.It discusses the use of reflection in an easily understood format.It gives some useful models and advise for reflective practice.the sectiosn on the usage of reflection for professioanl devlopmnet are very useful. This book has been very valuable and is currently recommended to students on the PGDE Primary course. They have found the information contained within it to be highly informative, relevant and extremely useful in planning and undertaking aspects of their school placements and developing the necessary skill in managing their own professional development. The book will be on the recommended reading list for forthcoming session 2014. This book is accessible and ideal to have on the reading list for a PGCE to support the reflective element of practice. This will also support the teaching of sessions around reflective practice and keeping the ′journal′. It may be of use in schools to support NQT programmes. Good book for additional reading This will be a useful book for our professional development module. I will use this text myself, to support my changing role as a mentor and coach, as well as a teacher. I will recommend it to learners who show interest in reflective practice as a way to support their future learners - particularly relevant for those learners who are considering teaching in schools, with useful examples of reflective practice studies. This book was targeted primarily at the teaching profession and I did not feel there was enough consideration of how the schema suggested might apply to other professions. Some good definitions and exploration of the concept of reflection though. Just the look of this text makes it a readable addition to any teacher trainees′ library. I will be adding to our new reading lists A helpful guide for students to get to grips with this important aspect of early years practice This beek is excellent for demonstrating connections between reflective practice and professional development.
Good for putting into contect for learners.
Good clear contents list and excellent links to theory. This book provides essential reading for learners developing their reflective skills some helpful ideas for students This text is easy to navigate and digest. The questions for reflection at the end of sections within the book provide useful tools for the reflective practitioner. Not only is this book useful for students on the foundation degree in early years, but it could also be useful for learners operating at a higher level for those studying vocational level 3 childcare courses. An excellent book for helping students understand how reflection in practice is a legitimate source of knowledge and evidence in contemporary practice. excellent book to assist in ADP programme Enjoyed reading the book -easy to read but gets the point across. recomended reading for pre-and post reg It provides useful support for a reflective approach. An easy to read book which assists students with critical reflective practice. This text helps students link reflective practice to their own professional development. Good exercises to encourage students to engage with reflective practice. a useful aide for students. I will be recommending this book This is an excellent introduction to the area of reflective practice. The chapter overviews and summaries are well lay out and presented. Of importance also to students are the example case studies cited which prompt focussed student discussion. This is an essential text for all students engaging in critical reflective practice. Great addition to any collection on reflective practice Great text for trainee teachers to dip in and out of Great addition to any collection on reflective practice. Insightful reading for those individuals who are embarking on a career change into teaching. An easy to read style that compliments the research papers my students wee asked to read as part of their ′reflection on reflections′ process This is a great book that approaches reflection from an education perspective and links it to professional practice. It underpins that value of reflection and pulls together good examples from an educational (school) context. The section about reflective practice for children and young people suggests ways of introducing it to groups and discusses research carried out. As a teacher educator the fact that the book looks at ITE and the value of reflection is particularly useful to me as some of my students struggle with reflective concepts. I don′t consider this text useful for pre-registration student nurses, but it would be useful for teacher training courses. I don′t consider this book relevant for pre-registration nursing courses, but I would for teacher training awards. This book is more appropriate for teachers and student teachers.
The reflective element is very useful and appropriate for student teachers in education and in nursing education.

An interesting book and well thought out. The author attempts to relate much of the content to a range of different teaching situations and not just those in schools.

I would not recommend this for the preceptorship programme, but for teacher training courses. Overall this copy has given me a further insite to developing the TAQA course in particular the reflective practice and CPD