‘With probation for beginning teachers and performance review for other teachers, teaching can be a secretive profession. That makes us hide what we are not doing well. We are not encouraged to share,’ argued Ben, a new teacher. In discussing his growing understanding of new teaching practices he added, ‘the only time I really get it is through professional dialogue.’
Yvette agreed. ‘Teaching can be a very isolated profession. There is a lack of opportunities for shared reflection.’
‘Where a culture of reflection and collaboration exists, there is evidence of cumulative knowledge of students. We know where the children come from, and this is the base for new teaching,’ Jan explained.
‘And also more coherent practice’, Susan added, ‘I no longer know how to plan alone, I am so used to planning collaboratively.’
Burrows, Peter, Bill Cope, Mary Kalantzis, Les Morgan, Kieju Suominen and Nicola Yelland. 2006. Data from the Australian Research Council Learning By Design Project. ‘Unpublished Manuscript‘.