A TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE FOCUSING ON REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

Teaching always involves challenges; and reflective practice can be an indispensable tool for adapting one's teaching to meet these challenges. The professional development and recertification online course for K-12 classroom (thus in-service) teachers described herein sought to identify the importance and benefits of reflective practice and to become familiar with various reflective strategies in teaching. The professor of education developing and conducting this course employed an online learning community approach. While writing, reading, and learning cooperatively, participants reflected on their own teaching practices. The approach used in the course is likely essential for any use of student-centered instruction with diverse learners. This case study highlights several kinds of information that in-service teachers can readily use to improve their teaching. Of four tasks in teaching (preparation of material; instructional delivery in the classroom; grading student work; and evaluating one's teaching effectiveness), the fourth most directly enables continuous improvement. And even more important, for most in-service teachers, is that evaluating one's performance is essential for maintaining professional vitality and continuous improvement in teaching. (C) 2019 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.UK