Reflective Teaching
thinking and writing about our work in the
classroom
Shaun Longstreet, Ph.D.
Friday, February 8, 2008 1

Agenda for today
• Introductions
• Reflective practices and benefits.
• Sources for more reflective practices.
• Documenting our teaching for administrators
and hiring committees
Friday, February 8, 2008 2

What is ‘reflective
teaching’?
Friday, February 8, 2008 3

Being a Reflective
Practitioner
Friday, February 8, 2008 4

Practices of reflection
What do you do?
Why should we be reflective teachers?
Why should we write about our teaching?
How do we write about our teaching?
Friday, February 8, 2008 5

Benefits of being a reflective practitioner
Why should we be reflective teachers?
Become aware of our assumptions
Prevents surprises
Helps us strategize
Continual improvement
Job satisfaction!
Friday, February 8, 2008 6

Benefits of being a reflective practitioner
Why should we write about our teaching?
Memory fades with each new quarter
Helps make the theoretical more concrete
Eases long-term documentation for hiring & promotions
Start early and update often makes the process more
manageable
Friday, February 8, 2008 7

Questions?
Friday, February 8, 2008 8

Exercise
Sample reflective
questions. Take a
couple of minutes to
think about one of
the questions. Then
pair up and share
your experiences.
Friday, February 8, 2008 9

HOW TO START?
Friday, February 8, 2008 10

Sources and evidence
Where can we look for feedback?
Classroom performance
Student evaluations
Peer / Faculty review
Theory / Teaching, Learning and Technology
Center
Friday, February 8, 2008 11

Teaching Autobiography
Writing about our own teaching
A way to reify our practices and assumptions
A starting point for strategizing and improving
our teaching
A way to communicate how we teach to
others.
Friday, February 8, 2008 12

Questions?
Friday, February 8, 2008 13

Exercise
Let’s take a few
minutes to do the
‘critical moments’
exercise...
Friday, February 8, 2008 14

DOCUMENTING OUR
TEACHING
Friday, February 8, 2008 15

Teaching Philosophy
&
Teaching Narrative
What is a teaching philosophy?
What is a teaching narrative?
How are they used/useful?
Friday, February 8, 2008 16

Teaching Philosophy
1-2 page document.
Concise, cogent and concrete explanation of your
beliefs, attitudes, and values regarding teaching &
learning.
Addresses:
goals for student learning,
teaching methods,
measuring student learning,
inclusive classroom
Friday, February 8, 2008 17

Teaching Narrative
Longer document 4-8 pages.
More detailed, autobiographical.
‘Cover letter’ for a teaching portfolio.
Friday, February 8, 2008 18

Teaching Autobiography
What is your teaching experience?
What led to your teaching to this point?
What are some of your approaches to the
classroom time?
What plans do you have for your teaching in the
future?
Friday, February 8, 2008 19

Teaching Portfolio
Coherent presentation of teaching excellence
Teaching portfolio often includes:
Teaching narrative
Summative statement of student evaluations
Syllabi
Student letters
Friday, February 8, 2008 20

Effective Teaching
Philosophy and Portfolio
Must be clear, simple, concrete.
Is uniquely you - template portfolios are far less
effective.
The portfolio evidence must be supported by and be
consistent with philosophy and narrative.
Friday, February 8, 2008 21

Best practices:
Think before you teach:
Spend as much time as you can afford on course
construction
Be prepared to be somewhat flexible; think of
possible contingencies
After each class session take a few minutes to jot a
note or two about the class
Put in side notes on your syllabus, note changes you
would make for future courses.
Friday, February 8, 2008 22

Questions?
Friday, February 8, 2008 23

Exercise
A good prompt for
the beginnings of a
teaching philosophy is
the ‘teaching cube’.
Friday, February 8, 2008 24

Packet Contents
“Preparing a Teaching Portfolio” F. Mues and M. Sorcinelli
“Evaluating and Documenting Teaching Effectiveness” L.
Nilson
“Becoming Critically Reflective” S. Brookfield
“Vitality and Growth Throughout Your Teaching Career”
W. McKeachie
Friday, February 8, 2008 25

Reflective Teaching
thinking and writing about our work in the
classroom
Shaun Longstreet, Ph.D.
Friday, February 8, 2008 26