On February 5, 2024, Dr. Shawn Simonson , a Director of the Human Performance Laboratory and a Professor of Kinesiology at Boise State University, presented-on Teaching Effectiveness Frameworks. At the start he reminded us:
“We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.”– John Dewey
Simonson was involved in creating the Boise State Framework that focuses on 4 criteria:
- Course design: designing course materials in alignment with SLOs
- Scholarly teaching: implementation of evidence-based practices
- Learner centeredness: using and inclusive learner centered approach
- Reflective practice: practicing reflective teaching to drive continuous improvement of teaching
Tips for Reflective Teaching: Simonson’s workshop focused on how we can use mindful reflection to better understand and improve our own teaching. The four steps to the reflective teaching cycle include: 1) teach, 2) self-assess, 3) consider, and 4) practice. The slideshow and worksheets from the workshop linked below are available to help you to complete the mindful reflective practice he introduced in the workshop. Here are a few prompts and suggestions to get started:
- Start with 2 questions: “What are you good at? Why are you good at those aspects of teaching?”
- After each class, take a few minutes to jot down some notes about what you think went well including what topics did the students ask questions about
- How can you incorporate those topics into your next lesson or update your lesson for the next time you teach it?
There is no right or wrong way to document your reflections, but it is important to reflect on an ongoing basis. Sticky notes, journaling, voice memos and Microsoft forms are all easy options to incorporate into your practice. Student feedback, supportive peer feedback, student work analysis, recording and watching your own teaching, and collaborative dialogue with colleagues are also great ways to receive input on your teaching and engage in reflection.