How do you use theoretical frameworks and models to reflect on your practice?

1 What are theoretical frameworks and models?

Theoretical frameworks and models are useful tools for organizing and interpreting experiences, observations, and evidence. They provide concepts, principles, and criteria to guide reflection and inquiry, as well as help connect practice to relevant research, literature, and standards. Examples of theoretical frameworks and models include Gibbs' reflective cycle (1988), which has six stages; Brookfield's four lenses (1995); Cochran-Smith and Lytle's inquiry cycle (2009), which involves four phases; and Danielson's professional standards framework (2013), with four domains of teaching.

2 How to choose a framework or model?

When reflecting and inquiring as a teacher, there is no one-size-fits-all framework or model. It is important to select one that suits your needs, interests, and context. To do so, consider your goals and questions, sources of data, audience and feedback, as well as your time and resources. Ask yourself: What do you want to learn, improve, or change in your practice? What kind of evidence do you have or need to collect? Who will you share your reflection and inquiry with? How much time and support do you have for it? Answering these questions can help you determine the best framework or model for your situation.

3 How to use a framework or model?

Using a framework or model for teacher reflection and inquiry is an iterative process that requires creativity, flexibility, and critical thinking. To get the most out of it, select a framework or model that aligns with your goals and questions, familiarize yourself with its concepts, principles, and criteria, and apply it to your practice. Collect and analyze data related to your goals and questions, draw conclusions from the data and the framework or model, plan actions to improve your practice based on those conclusions, then monitor and evaluate the impact of those actions. Use the framework or model to reflect on the outcomes and challenges throughout each step of the process.

4 What are the benefits of using frameworks and models?

Using frameworks and models for teacher reflection and inquiry can help you to become more self-aware and self-regulating, while also identifying your strengths and areas for improvement. It can also enable you to develop your knowledge, skills, and dispositions, as well as aligning your practice with research, literature, and standards. Furthermore, frameworks and models can assist in problem-solving and addressing issues in your practice, as well as generating new ideas and innovations. Additionally, they can provide an opportunity to share with and learn from peers and mentors, while also contributing to your professional community and field.

5 What are the challenges of using frameworks and models?

Using frameworks and models for teacher reflection and inquiry can also pose some challenges, such as finding a suitable and relevant one for your context and goals, understanding and applying it appropriately, balancing it with your own intuition and judgment, dealing with complexity and uncertainty, managing the time and resources needed, facing the emotional and ethical implications, and communicating and collaborating effectively with others involved.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?