This document discusses four dimensions of reflective learning: thinking back, thinking forward, thinking inward, and thinking outward. It provides questions to guide reflection within each dimension. The document then provides an example of a teaching experience with young children and reflects on it using the four dimensions. It discusses objectives, activities, lessons learned, and how the experience influenced goals and teaching approach. It also considers an issue one student faced and different perspectives on how to address it.

1. I.F.D.C. Lenguas Vivas
Taller de Práctica Docente
Dimensions of Reflective Learning
Student:Lorena A Campos
Adaptedfrom Karen Barnstable (2009)
These fourdimensionsare intendedto help teachers gaina deeper understandingofthemselves
and oftheir actions.
ThinkingBack
Thinkingabouta pedagogical experience retrospectivelymayallow teacherstorevisitthe entire
experience fromadifferentperspective. Theymayask:
 What was the original aimof thisproject/experience?
 Were the objectives,activitiesandthe use of resourcescoherentwithapedagogical
perspective?
 Was it significantforlearners?Why?/Why not?
 What specificskills/knowledge/attributeswere necessarytodevelopthisteaching
experience?
 What didI learnfromthisexperience?
ThinkingForward
Reflectingonhowtoact differentlyinthe future mayhelpteacherstotransformand
improve theirteachingpractices.
Questionsthatmayfosterunderstandingof future implicationsaboutteachingare:
 If I hadthe chance to developthisproject/practiceagain,whatchangeswouldImake?
 How mightthisproject/experience influence myfuture goals?
 How mightthisproject/experience affectmyfuture pedagogical decisions?

2. ThinkingInward
Turninginwardscan raise teachers'awarenessof theiremotions.Introspectivereflectionshelp
teachersundergomeaningful teachingexperiences.Questionsthatmaytriggerintrospective
reflectionsare:
 Why wasthisproject/experiencemeaningful tome?
 What are mypersonal beliefs regardingthisexperience?
 Am I satisfiedwiththe wayIdevelopedthispractice?Why/Why not?
 What differenceshasthe experience made inmyintellectual,personal orethical
development?
 How didI feel duringthisexperience?
ThinkingOutward
To reflectonthe worldaroundus, we shouldbe aware of others'viewpointsand
attitudes.Thinkingoutwardmayencourage teacherstoexpandtheirownviewsorto
reaffirmtheirpositions.Questionsthatmayallow teacherstoreflectoutwardlyare:
 What ismy viewregardingthistopic,problemorsituation?Are there any
alternative viewpoints?
 Whichof these viewpointsmake the mostsense?
 Is itpossible toarticulate theminordertoanalyse the complex nature of realityandgaina
deeperunderstandingof it?
 Is mycurrent viewbeneficial toothers?Why/Why not?
 Doesthe situation/problemhave social,political, economic,ethical implications.
The original aim of thisexperiencewastoteachlittle childrenatkindergartensuccessfully.
Consideringthe commentsof mytutor, and mypersonal experienceIcan saythat my objectives,
activitiesandresourcestoteachwere quite good.Icouldcatch students’attentionduringall the
lessons,because Ichose charactersthatwere familiartothemtoteach themthe differenttopics
(colours,animalsandnumbers) .Theywere interestedinlearningthe new vocabularyinEnglish,
theyrepeatedthe vocabularytryingtoimitate the pronunciation,andparticipatedeagerlyinall
the activities.
To developthisteachingexperience,Ihadto put intopractice all the knowledge thatIhad studied
duringthe fourpast yearsin Didactics andPsychology forchildren subjects.Besides,Ialsotook
intoaccount my teacher’sandthe local teacher’s piecesof advice.
I was soscared! I hadneverworkedwithlittlechildrenbefore,soitwaschallengingforme.

3. However,Ihave to say it was a beautiful experience.Those little childrenweresosweet,full of
love andenergy!
If I hadthe chance of doingthispractice again,I would speak more naturallytostudents,Iwould
exploitabitmore the songsand I wouldsitina little chairtobe at theirlevel.
Thisexperience influencedinmyfuture goals,because now I know thatI’m capable of working
withlittle kids.Somaybe, Iwouldworkinakindergarten!
It alsoshowed me,thatit’strue we can success if we applydifferentteachingstrategiesthatare
accordingto our students’age,levelandinterests.
Thisexperience was really meaningful tome,because Ithoughtthatitwouldbe almostimpossible
to teachto little kids,Imeantocatch theirattentionandmake themfeel comfortable.
Thispractice taught me that I have to be more confidentregardingmyself,Ihave totrust onwhat I
learntand inmy capacities.
I’msatisfiedwiththe wayIdevelopedmypractice.Duringthe firstlesson,Iwasso nervous,but
thenit waseasier,Ifeltmore relaxed. Iexperiencedapersonal development,because Iputinto
practice my abilitiestodohandicraftslike Molly’sbag,the dice andthe memorygame!
Duringthese lessons,Ifeltverywell.Ilikedthe institutionverymuch!The teacherandthe
headmistress whoworkedduringthe morning hadagoodrelationship.Theyare nice people,so
thiscontributedtocreate a warm atmosphere.Kidswere respectful,obedientandsweet.Ifelt
comfortable withthe institution’sstaff andthe students.
Unfortunately, there are alwayssome problematicsituationsatinstitutions. The teachertoldme
that one of the students,Erian,hadsome problems.Thisishisfirstyearatkindergartenandhe is
three yearsold.
The teachercan’t close the room’sdoor,because he starts crying.He alsohas problemsto
socialize withhispeers,sometimeshe feelsnervous,becausethe otherchildrentalktohimor
theyhave differentopinionswhenthey’replayingandhe has a strange reaction,he throws-up.
The teachertoldme that she hadtalkedwithhisparentsandtheywere workingtogether.
Regardingthissituation,IthinkthatErianhad some troublesomeeventsinthe past.Maybe his
parentslockedhiminhisbedroomwhenhe hada bad behaviour,orhe hada bad nanny.There
shouldbe a problemwithbeinglocked,becausethe teachercan’tclose the door!Andinmy
opinion,itisn’tnormal.
The teacherjust toldme the problem, thatshe had talkedwithErian’sparentsandthatthe kid
had improvedabitduringthe lasttwo weeks.She didn’tgiveme the possibilityof expressingmy
opinionregardingthe topic.If she hadgivenme the possibilityof doingit,maybe she would have
had anotherpointof view.
Thissituationisrelatedtoa social problem.Often,manyparentsdon’tknow how todeal with
children’smisbehaviour,ortheyselectwhoeverasa nanny.
Teachersmustbe aware of these situations.Theyalwayshave toobservetheirstudentsinorder
to helpthemtoovercome theirproblems.Inthiscase,the teachertalkedwiththe parents.
However,if inthe future Erian has the same problems,she willhave totalkwitha social workeror
the police.