Supporting the Construction of Teacher’s Practical Knowledge Through Different Interactive Formats of Oral Reflection and Written Reflection

The relevance of initial teacher education is a widely recognised concern. Researchers are striving to find innovative pedagogies that would better prepare student teachers for actual day-to-day teaching. In this study, a guided reflection procedure is presented that aimed to support student teachers in constructing practical knowledge and linking this with research-generated knowledge. In all, 21 student teachers at an Estonian university participated in the guided reflection procedure. Their lessons were video recorded, two meaningful events (one empowering and one challenging) selected, and oral (alone or with a peer or supervisor) and written reflections carried out. Differences between students’ practical knowledge as presented in (1) oral and written reflections and (2) in three oral reflection conditions were investigated. Results indicated that the procedure supports the construction of different types of practical knowledge. Moreover, the practical knowledge gained could be more easily transferred to other situations when the oral reflection was carried out with a peer or supervisor.