People who work in the education industry need to be reflective, regardless of the length and wealth of their experiences. Being able to pause and think about one’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviours can greatly help both professionals and students alike. However, evaluating your own actions and philosophies should also be coupled with the willingness to change.
In this light, I urge you to conduct the following reflective exercise (adopted from Bartolo et al., 2007):
Think of two of your current or previous students- one who was very successful in school and one who was not. Consider the impact on them of their:
- Cultural Background
- Readiness for Formal Education
- Gender
- Behaviours
- Social Maturity
- Classroom Context
- Special Educational Needs
Understanding and Embracing Diversity 