From Awareness to Action: A Complete Guide to Reflective Thinking Cycles for Teachers

Reflection is most effective when it is a cycle of connected phases of thinking. Get started with this comprehensive guide to reflective thinking cycles.

Reflective thinking is a process that helps educators explore their practice. Reflecting on your teaching can give you valuable insight into your strengths and weaknesses.

It also helps you see the effect of different pedagogical approaches on students’ learning, allowing you to choose methods that are most effective for your students.

John Dewey advocated for reflection as a critical element of the learning process.

we do not learn from experience, but from reflecting on experience.

Reflective thinking is not a single event to tick off, nor an isolated experience. Reflection is most effective when it is a series of connected phases of thinking. These phases of thinking are often outlined in a cycle as we return to an initial starting point or the habit continues.

Reflective practice is:

learning through and from experience towards gaining new insights of self and practice

Finlay, 2008