In Search of Empirical Evidence for a Growth Path to Critical Reflection Cover Image

In Search of Empirical Evidence for a Growth Path to Critical Reflection
In Search of Empirical Evidence for a Growth Path to Critical Reflection

Author(s): Jean Claude Callens
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Education, Higher Education
Published by: European Distance and E-Learning Network
Keywords: critical reflection; growth path; Learning effectiveness, improvement of learning experience; Non-formal and informal learning; Work-based learning

Summary/Abstract: During their studies, pre-service teachers are continually asked to reflect. Hereby is mainly expected that they reach a level of critical reflection. Critical reflection is often described as a growth path in different phases, with critical reflection as endpoint. It is unclear whether empirical research confirms this growth path. To check whether a growth path with critical reflection as endpoint can be empirical confirmed, 596 reflections from four different empirical studies with pre-service teachers were taken in a secondary analysis. The results from this secondary analysis reveal that 1) participants score very low on critical reflection and 2) the idea of a growth path with critical reflection as endpoint cannot be confirmed. Focus shift is possibly a description that is closer to the empirical findings. Based on the results of this study, possible implications for the supervision of students are described.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 40-46
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: English