"Just thinking about stuff". Reflective learning: Jane's story

Reflection as a practice development strategy is an integral part of many professional development programmes. This paper documents and explores the reflection occurring at a range of levels as part of an action research study for an MA Education final dissertation. Triggered by reflective discussions that took place between Jane (the teacher and MA student) and her pupils, and Jane and Mary (the MA tutor), the paper explores and articulates the potency of reflection as a shared and collaborative activity. Drawing on the Ghaye and Ghaye typology for reflection, analysis of the challenges and benefits of helping her students to reflect on their own learning was to show unexpected outcomes on their achievement. As Jane articulated, ‘In order to learn, there is more at play than the transference of subject based knowledge. Good teaching involves helping students to recognise how they can learn and make sense of their experiences.’