Reflexive Practice: Nurturing Professional Capital

 

Reflexive Practice

Reflexive practice is the deep, critical examination of your teaching—looking not just at what you do, but why, and how your beliefs, identity, and social context influence it. It helps future teachers grow into thoughtful, ethical, and adaptive professionals.

What is Professional Capital?

Professional Capital (as defined by Hargreaves & Fullan, 2012) is made up of three interrelated components:

Type of Capital	Meaning	Example in Teacher Education
Human Capital	Knowledge, skills, and capabilities	Subject knowledge, pedagogy, communication skills
Social Capital	Relationships, collaboration, and trust among colleagues	Peer teaching, group lesson planning, mentor support
Decisional Capital	Ability to make wise judgments and decisions in complex situations	Choosing how to handle classroom misbehaviour ethically and effectively

How Reflexive Practice Nurtures Professional Capital

1. Enhancing Human Capital

When you reflect critically on your teaching and learning experiences, you identify your strengths and areas for growth.

• Example: After struggling to explain a math concept, you reflect, study alternative strategies, and try again using a visual method. You become better at explaining complex ideas.

2. Building Social Capital

By engaging in peer feedback, collaborative lesson planning, and co-teaching, you develop trust, communication skills, and shared professional knowledge.

• Example: After a peer observation, you discuss your challenges with classroom control and receive tips from others. You learn that many share the same struggle and support each other in improving.

3. Strengthening Decisional Capital

Reflexivity enables you to think through classroom situations, understand their social dimensions (e.g., gender, language, inclusion), and make better judgments.

• Example: You notice that girls are less vocal in science discussions. You reflect on your behavior and realize you unconsciously call on boys more. You change your questioning strategy to ensure equal participation.

 

Reflexive practice is not just about becoming a better teacher—it is about becoming a thoughtful, ethical, and socially aware professional.

It nurtures:

• Human Capital by improving your teaching knowledge and skills

• Social Capital by fostering relationships and collaboration

• Decisional Capital by developing sound, inclusive professional judgment