“Reflective Journals: Using Students’ Life Experiences in Teacher Education”
Dr. Nancy Knapp: Wednesday, October 3, 2012
3:00pm, 631 Aderhold
Many scholars have characterized the “apprenticeship of observation” as a “pitfall” to be avoided or a barrier to be overcome in preservice teacher education, but directly challenging students’ experience-based beliefs often leads to resistance, making students feel discounted or disrespected. In this session, we look at several ways that reflective journals can be used to help early preservice teachers non-threateningly confront their often unconsidered assumptions about teaching and learning, so that their shared life experiences become a resource for, rather than a barrier to, their developing understandings.