Recognizing that some personalities find Reflective Practices to be more enjoyable than others, I comprehend that not everyone will engage frequently in deeply reflective activities; however, I do imagine it to be an essential skill in the development of the Habits of a Flourishing Life. The challenge becomes, especially in this world of distraction, to Be Still, to Take It Slow, and to allow the quietness that is required to engage in a time of reflection.

As an educator, I find Reflective Practice to almost be second nature—professors review a lecture or presentation after its conclusion to determine what improvements are needed; a teacher asks students to compose their thoughts after viewing a video or reading an article; and we even highlight the importance of reflection in the Educator Preparation Program at Union University by including it in the conceptual framework of “sensitivity, reflection, and faith.” We grasp the significance of Reflective Practice in preparing “students to be highly effective classroom teachers.”

Remaining in education, I am fully aware that many professors engage in a variety of Reflective Practices, especially when examining their careers through the lens of the promotion and tenure process; but I wonder how many educators find themselves utilizing the practice of blogging as an opportunity to engage in a Reflective Practice? Personally, composing 800-word posts has become an outlet for synthesizing what I’m researching, for processing what is occurring in my life on a personal, professional, or spiritual level, and for sharing dialogue with colleagues and students about challenges we might be experiencing at this present moment.

This week after reading Long Le’s article, I am reminded that blogging can be “a potential game changer in education. This is because blogging can effectively and efficiently intertwine one’s personal experiences, professional knowledge, and community of practice all at once… While some studies find that educators who blog are not directly motivated by teaching practices and purposes, I find blogging to be a platform that helps me be deliberate in developing my teaching artistry, both privately and publicly… Perhaps a key distinguished feature of blogging is that it disseminates knowledge for action in a timely way…One of the mains goals of bloggers, including myself, is to generate meaningful comments that foster a community of practice, which can then be valuable to readers.”

Personally, I hope that readers are challenged to engage in a Reflective Practice when they read a post, and that they will feel compelled to comment or share so that the reflection process continues and evolves into broader conversations. For me, these replies open the door to consider a topic from various perspectives and disciplines, thus engaging in Reclaiming Conversations that might be waning in the digital world in which we live. While many of us may be interested in engaging and equipping emerging generations, we can discuss strategies and best practices that have enriched our own educational experiences, learning from each other, and applying new ideas into our own lives.

My hope is that fellow bloggers will share how they find the process to be a Reflective Practice and how it is enhancing who they are while on this journey to live out our God-given purpose. Perhaps, like me, you sometimes find yourself reviewing previous postings and reflecting on what was happening in your life at that particular time, or you see ways that ideas and concepts are being connected to one another, often in mysterious ways. I’m continuously learning that God can use a variety of practices in our life to offer guidance and direction, and if God desires to use blogging as a modern tool for Reflective Practice, perhaps, I just need to surrender and utter the words, “Speak, Lord, I’m Listening!”

What Reflective Practices do you find enhance your overall health, hopefully leading you to a flourishing life—meditation, prayer, worship, reading, exercising, hobbies, journaling? Please feel free to share in the comments below.

References:

EPP. (2021). Conceptual framework of the Educator Preparation Program. Union University. Retrieved from https://www.uu.edu/programs/epp/conceptual-framework/

Le, L. (2021, August 25). Developing a reflective practice in the return to campus: Blogging to process out our teaching artistry. Faculty Focus. Retrieved from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/developing-a-reflective-practice-in-the-return-to-campus-blogging-to-process-out-our-teaching-artistry/?st=FFdaily;sc=FF210825;utm_term=FF210825&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Developing+a+Reflective+Practice+in+the+Return+to+Campus%3A+Blogging+to+Process+Out+Our+Teaching+Artistry&utm_campaign=FF210825