Despite the ubiquity of reflective practice in education, mandating reflective processes within sanctioned frameworks is inherently problematic, as it may lead to reproduction, standardization, and forced universalities, rather than the critical and innovative pedagogy they intend. This article engages with reflection through both the metaphor and…

We were interested in how preparing for a national teaching award influences those who subsequently receive awards and whether these influences expand higher education's exploration of teaching excellence or limit it. We explored these interests by conducting semi-structured telephone interviews with 10 awardees from five different countries and…