Collective reflection, which has become a de rigueur activity in teacher training and professional development, is predicated upon Schön's theory of reflective practice. This concept, according to which people learn to be reflective-in-action through reflection on practice, relates primarily to individual and one-on-one mentorship processes. The…

This paper is an investigation of pedagogical tact in terms of vigilance. It is based on a close reading of a passage from Rousseau's "Emile:" a (problematic and troubling) narrative account on the art of hosting a dinner party. Working with the narrative of the dinner party, distinctions are drawn between contrasting ways of knowing,…

While attention has long been a concern in western philosophy and eastern spirituality, technologies (e.g., social media, gaming) and pathologies (e.g., attention deficit disorders) have recently foregrounded the issue specifically in education. Issues of "student" absorption and diversion have been widely discussed; comparatively less…

This article aims to articulate the richness of the pedagogical relation and pedagogical tact in an age of the near ubiquitous presence of digital education. Drawing on Citton, we argue that there is an ecology of attentional influence that is pedagogically decisive. Our argument proceeds as follows: first, we introduce Citton's theoretical frame;…

One of the main goals of the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course is to facilitate the development of learners' reading comprehension and reflective skills in English, which can be developed with appropriate instruction. However, in EFL courses, many students are inactive in reflecting on their reading and are disengaged from learning. To…

I begin with my experience, with the importance of words during my early years, then as a teacher. Through the Prospect Center's Summer Institutes, I learned a descriptive process, Reflection on a Word, based in the work of Pat Carini at the Prospect School. I write about learning this process, the ways it entered my teaching life, and how it is…

This book challenges the dominant expertise professionalism rationale for music education by responding to the call to develop 'ecological awareness' at a time when all professions have a moral obligation to place sustainable and interdependent life at the center. The book aims to expand music education's professional horizons to acknowledge the…

Action research is characterized by research that is done by teachers for themselves. It allows teachers to study their own classrooms in order to better understand them and to be able to improve their quality or effectiveness. Montessori modeled and laid the foundation for teachers to carefully observe, reflect on their observations, plan for…

Professional learning may be the most significant when the teacher feels fundamentally challenged and questioned about their practices, beliefs, or identities. In this paper, the elements that cause such fundamental challenges and questions -- disruptions -- are called 'disruptive hooks'. In the process of addressing such disruptive hooks,…

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on reflection in the context of education. Reflection is found to be an important learning tool in professional education, and that the skills required for reflection need to be developed in professional courses. A review of the literature was carried out to identify reflection directly related…

Appraisal processes are a requirement for professionals working in the education sector. Often appraisal processes do not focus on strengths, rather, it becomes a process of meeting pre-determined requirements. This article takes a strength-based approach to appraisal and discusses a study which pilots the use of an Appreciative Growth Cycle…

Teamwork and collaboration skills are regarded as essential proficiencies in the current worlds of work, study and everyday life. A relevant question is whether and how pre-service teachers have opportunities to begin acquiring professional collaboration skills during their studies. In the current study, Finnish pre- and in-service teachers…

The present scoping review aimed to systematically review the corpus of data sources including 92 published papers, which were identified and retrieved based on the study criteria. The papers were coded using categories which were operational definitions of reflection and reflective practice, unit of analysis, theoretical frameworks, levels of…

In the face of the traumas of a global pandemic, it became pertinent for teacher training programmes and educators like me to be intentional about practices that foreground a pedagogy of care with a focus on wellness and healing, courageous conversations and what Price-Dennis and Sealey-Ruiz (2021) has described as critical love. What does it mean…

Instructional vitality is something educators must manage themselves, yet many grow tired and may lack institutional support across their career. How can institutions nurture collegial and stimulating teaching environments? Teaching practices are underpinned by common areas of activity that form a framework practitioners can use to organize their…