Frank D. Susi stresses
the importance of using reflection as a tool to grow as an art teacher and to
better lessons. Reflecting allows you to have a greater understanding of what
took place and think about ways to change anything causing negative outcomes.
Through reflection we learn a lot in our lives, like trial and error. When
something doesn’t work we reflect on it, even if only for a few seconds, and to
find out why it didn’t work and what we can do differently to make it work.
Susi uses this process in the classroom to reflect on the teaching process and
the student responses to find out what went well and what could go better.
Susi listed three
different types of reflection: reflection-on-action, reflection-in-action, and
reflection-for-action. Usually when I think of reflection it is
reflection-on-action, thinking back to what already took place, but I think
that reflection-in-action takes place a lot more than I notice, even while
writing this it is taking place. Reflection-for-action combines both outcomes
and is necessary for improving strategies.
I observed a teacher a
year or two ago who taught art from grades one to five in an elementary school.
What she found to be the most helpful in teaching was reflection and she
constantly told me about the importance of good reflection. She always had
every class planned out in detail but was ready to change any plan based on
what was being observed at the time, or by reflection-in-action. Susi says that
“Reflection involves looking back on experiences as a way to reconsider and
better understand what happened”, which is something that should be happening
constantly through our teaching experience.
I too had never thought much about reflection-in-action before this reading. I tend too naturally reflect on a lot of things I do, especially when I am making art. Every time I paint a picture I am constantly analyzing the spots of color I put down and questioning what to do next. When we are teachers it will be good to get into the habit of reflecting on our actions during and after class, paying careful attention to student participation and behavior. It will help us see the big picture and better understand our students.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that reflection-in-action sort of shined a light on some of my thinking. I think we naturally sort of reflect on what we are doing in the moment (especially as art creators) but it is when we actively engage that reflection that we begin to full understand and learn from it. Reflection is a whole experience from the start, to the during, to the after. It can seem tedious at times, but I think that with practice it will become second nature and will really help us to see patterns and implement changes.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Susi about the trial-and-error process and how important it is. However, I have trouble with the "error" portion of this process. I need to start thinking and acknowledging the fact the I WILL mess up but also, after effecting, I WILL eventually succeed.
ReplyDelete