Integrating reflective practice through the use of blog technology for professional development of teaching staff in higher

education.

Martina Crehan & Muireann O'KeeffeLTTCDIT

• Reflection is often used as a tool to evaluate and improve teaching practice

• (Hatton and Smith, 1995).

Reflective practice

• …the process of stepping back from experience to process what the experience means, with a view to planning further

• …the critical link between the concrete experience, the interpretation and taking new action

• …the key to learning as it enables you to develop an ability to uncover and make explicit to yourself what you have planned, discovered and achieved in practice

Reflective Practice

– The act of reflection prevents acting from routine

– It allows the teacher to consider practice and effect

– Scaffolds development of practice

Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle

PG Dip Overview

• Revalidation • Assessment portfolio• Constructive alignment...

Blog

• Blogs supporting reflection• Journal/diary type entries• Ease of use/accessible anytime anywhere

Implementation of blog tool

• Evaluation of blogs tools– Blogger vs WordPress

• Blogs and confidentiality– Permissions: tutor/student

• Intro with PG Dip class– Creation of blog in class

• Support issues...– Some queries, most found it easy to use

Case study

• Data collection: survey & interviews

Blog Excerpts

• Examples of reflection• Depth of reflection• Descriptive vs. critical

Findings/Results

Implications

Further work

References • Downes, S. (2004). Educational blogging. Educause Review.

September/October 2004. (pp. 14-26). http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERM0450.pdf Accessed 17/09/2010

Suggested References!• Boud, D., Keogh, R. & Walker, D. “Promoting reflection in learning:

a model.” In Boud, D., Keogh, R. & Walker, D. (eds.) Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning, New York: Nichols, 18-40, 1985

• Johns, C. (2004). Becoming a reflective practitioner. (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.

• Moon, J. Reflection in Learning and Professional Development. London: Kogan Page, 1999a

• Schön, D. A. The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. New York: Basic Books, 1983.