what is reflective practice in teaching

Reflective practice in teaching is the process by which teachers continually reflect upon their teaching methods in the classroom, in order to improve their teaching and student learning. It involves examining ones underlying beliefs about teaching and learning and one's alignment with actual classroom practice before, during and after a course is taught. Reflective teaching requires information gathering, data interpretation, and planning for the future. The reflective process encourages teachers to work with others as they can share best practice and draw on others for support. Reflective practice aims to make teachers more aware of their own professional knowledge and action by challenging assumptions of everyday practice and critically evaluating practitioners' own responses to practice situations. Reflective teachers are more likely to develop reflective learners. By reflecting on their teaching, teachers can identify any barriers to learning that their students have, and create lessons which reteach any content which their students have not been able to access to allow them to overcome any obstacles and develop. Reflecting practice creates an environment of collaboration as teachers question and adapt both their own practice and that of their colleagues.