Task 2c - Reflective theory

 

 As people, we naturally reflect upon our everyday experiences. Reflection can allow us to deepen our understanding of a given subject. The act of ‘reflective practise’ takes this further. I have explored some of the theories that I think will most help me progress in my role as a drama teacher to young children. Kolb outlined a learning cycle which has helped me to understand myself and my students more in depth. Dewey had an extremely positive outlook on arts in education which made me feel inspired.  Schön’s theories of ‘tacit’ knowledge interested me as acting is a subject in which it is hard to put your knowledge into words. We are constantly active; reading, listening, talking, watching, and working. However we won’t learn from any of these activities if we don’t evaluate what they have taught us.  To become an active learner it is essential to understand your learning style.

The research of David Kolb started to garner attention in the late 1960s. He presented his theory of a learning cycle.

(Kolb, 1984)

 

We have to choose which method of learning is best for us. This is not always the same in any given situation. For example, I have used my concrete experience as an actress to pass knowledge onto my students. Whereas I have learnt how to relate to a class of children through active experimentation as I didn't have any formal training. Kolb believes that we should see this cycle as continuous. He talks of being inspired by shells. (Sparrow, S. 2009) He said of us and them in his interview with Sparrow,
               “both can be self-making and self-learning as they adapt to their environment. In the shell this is seen as growth around a self-referential spine, and in experiential learning the cycle is a spiral of experiencing, reflecting, thinking and acting” (Kolb, 2009) I take this to mean that our learning style is not something that should be simply accepted but we should continue to grow to tackle new challenges.  Kolb says we should see,
             “oneself as a learner as opposed to having a fixed identity.” (Kolb, 2009) At this time he was looking into how 'learning identity' (Kolb, 2009) impacts ones learning and development. In my practise I have to keep evolving as a teacher in order to provide fresh and exciting sessions for my students. Kolb also put forward the importance of experience within the learning process rather than one simply learning facts, experiential learning.
             “When concrete experience is enriched by reflection, given meaning by thinking, and transformed by action, the new experience created becomes richer, broader and deeper” (Kolb, 1984). I believe that within the arts experiential learning is imperative. My learning did not stop the day I graduated drama school but continued as I worked with different directors, actors, stage mangers etc. Without reflection I would not grow to understand the skills I have gained from these experiences and would be unable to apply them effectively in future practise. Kolb did not create experiential learning but he took the ideas of those who he studied and put them into a framework. (Sparrow, 2009)

 

John Dewey influenced the work of Kolb, among others. It was Dewey who believed that the class of our education was linked to how engaged and connected we were to our experiences. (Reader 2, 2014). This relates in my practise as when you are not completely conscious and involved in a class the students are aware of this, they are intuitive. It is then that you lose control. When I began teaching drama I had to try out different disciplinary procedures. I rarely made a record of which techniques were effective. Since I have started writing a daily professional practise journal I have noticed a huge improvement in my classes, as I can now apply the disciplinary procedure which I know has led to the best results. The learning cycle also applies to the students.

          “The aim of education is development of individuals to the utmost of their potentialities.” (Dewey, 1934. P244) When researching Dewey his positive attitude towards education resonated with me. Dewey also believed that by engaging in the arts one would gain a distinctive experience. That this would cause a fuller awareness and involvement with society (Reader 2, 2014). I do find that those I know who are in involved in the arts are generally more open and understanding people. They are curious about other cultures and things that are alien to them. I believe that this stems from the fact that part of art, in any form, is understanding the world around you and using it as inspiration. Dewey stated that educators should,
            "unite in effort to rebuild the spirit of common understanding” (Dewey, 1934, p245) If I have a positive and proactive attitude towards lessons this will project onto my students.

 

As an actress and as a drama teacher I often get asked what I actually do.
            “When we try to describe it we find ourselves at a loss, or we produce descriptions that are obviously inappropriate.” (Schön, 1983. p49) Donald A. Schön discusses the idea of ‘tacit’ knowledge. We might not be able to put into words exactly what it is we know.  (Schön, 1983) This is often the case in acting; you can’t explain the emotions a character is feeling. You have to perform in order to demonstrate those emotions to an audience. The “knowing is in our action” (Schön, 1983). The challenge for myself as a teacher is that I have to share that knowledge with my students. All of the exercises I use in my lessons I have learned from experience. I know that they work because they have helped me in the past. Schön also discusses ‘reflection-in-action’, learning something in the moment and ‘reflection-on-action’, learning from something after the event (Schön, 1983). These techniques can both be applied in my practise. I often have to make quick decisions in class if a certain activity is not going the way I planned. I can then reflect fully on these decisions afterward in my journal.

 

Doing my own research into these theories has already had an impact on my day to day work. I related  to Kolb’s learning cycle as it validates that people learn in different ways; I have to understand that if a certain technique is not working for a student is doesn’t mean they are not trying. I should find another way to get my point across. This links in with Dewey’s views that education should push everyone to their full potential (Dewey, 1934) I will remember this in my lessons, I need to work hard in order that my students get the support they need. I had been using Schön’s theory of ‘reflection-in-action’ on a daily basis without understanding what it was. Now I that I am reflecting further in my journal on things that happen throughout the day I can be better prepared for similar situations arising in the future. I have come to understand how imperative reflection is in my professional practise. I aim to continue exploring reflection in order to gain an in depth understanding of myself and my career.

 

References

Cherry, K. (2015). What Is Experiential Learning?. [online] About.com Education. Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/educationalpsychology/a/experiential-learning.htm [Accessed 24 Mar. 2015].

Dewey, J. 2010, "The Need for a Philosophy of Education (1934)", Schools: Studies in Education, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 244-245.

Greenaway, T. (2015). Experiential learning articles + critiques of David Kolb's theory. [online] Reviewing.co.uk. Available at: http://reviewing.co.uk/research/experiential.learning.htm#axzz3TW7ZVdzZ [Accessed 24 Mar. 2015].

Kolb, D. and Kolb, A. (1984). Experiential Learning Spiral. In: N. Seel, ed., Encyclopaedia of the sciences of learning, 1st ed. [online] Springer Science & Business Media, 2012, p.1212. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u7kue5YV4lkC&pg=PA1212&dq=When+concrete+experience+is+enriched+by+reflection,+given+meaning+by+thinking,+and+transformed+by+action,+the+new+experience+created+becomes+richer,+broader+and+deeper&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dHIRVdP-NZeLaPv6gbgC&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=When%20concrete%20experience%20is%20enriched%20by%20reflection%2C%20given%20meaning%20by%20thinking%2C%20and%20transformed%20by%20action%2C%20the%20new%20experience%20created%20becomes%20richer%2C%20broader%20and%20deeper&f=false [Accessed 24 Mar. 2015].

Schön, D. (1983). The reflective practitioner. 3rd ed. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Limited.

Sparrow, S. (2009). The Kolb experience. [online] TrainingZone.co.uk. Available at: http://www.trainingzone.co.uk/comment/125613 [Accessed 24 Mar. 2015].

Smith, M. (2013). David A. Kolb on experiential learning.. [online] infed.org. Available at: http://infed.org/mobi/david-a-kolb-on-experiential-learning/ [Accessed 24 Mar. 2015].