Clip 4: Reflecting on learning

Gillian:

Well that was really interesting, wasn’t it? I can really see how Fran has moved in her thinking. She’s gained quite a lot of new insight, hasn’t she, into her practice? She’s actually examining it in quite a different kind of way. And that was really good because I actually sort of saw you there really challenging her and getting her to do that really reflective thinking. So you weren’t problem solving for her, you were actually getting her to do the work for herself.

Barbara:

I think what I was trying there was also some strategies that we had shared together – that you had shown me in regards to how you could go about that.

Gillian:

Right. So I guess then some of that learning for you was around the fact that you’d picked up on the modelling of that conversation we had. What were some of the other things that were key learnings for you, over this last four weeks really?

Barbara:

Certainly the importance of that supportive learning environment and making sure that you establish what the understanding of the roles are for all of us within that environment.

Gillian:

So them sort of knowing about your role as a critical friend?

Barbara:

Yes. And negotiating that role to ensure that we all, or individually we feel comfortable when we are working together as RTLBs and myself or in the group situation. So that was really important.

I guess a real light bulb moment for me was that realisation that when I’m challenging I don’t have to wait for the relationship to be built, that that is part of the building, and it’s really important that I ensure that I get those challenges in and the relationship building comes along with that.

Gillian:

Uh huh.

Barbara:

Another area that has been some new learning for me is the importance of using the inquiry approach to that questioning. So that if I’m really looking at some of those deeper level questioning stems, then I can make sure that I’m getting some real probing and some learning happening there within that questioning.

Gillian:

Right.

Barbara:

The relevance of the readings, and when to engage in those readings in regards to calling upon readings for your practice, it was really significant and, yeah, I found that really important.

Gillian:

Great. So there was lots of good learning there. And I guess, really thinking ahead now, where to with Fran? And where to with your learning?

Barbara:

Where to with Fran? Well, certainly for me, supporting Fran in looking at those strategies to help her engage the teachers and those that she’s working with.

Gillian:

Some practice perhaps?

Barbara:

Yeah, definitely some practice, and she talked about that in the conversation, the importance of that for her.

Being a part of this learning community that we’ve set up and established, because that has obviously been quite powerful for her and is a way forward for new learning, when you can discuss and be involved in others’ problems and how that can ... the readings, how they can relate to those problems and how we can unpack them. So that’s really important.

And that ongoing reflection – reflecting with a critical friend, reflecting in the learning community situation.

Gillian:

The constant challenge.

Barbara:

Yeah, challenge in reflection, really important.

Gillian:

And what about you? Your learning?

Barbara:

Yes, I’ve been thinking about that and I certainly want to continue on with this looking at how I’m challenging, what I actually am doing. And to do that, I need the critical friend relationship which we’ve established and which works really well for me to actually look at my practice and reflect and keep thinking about new learning for myself.

Also, the other aspect that I think is really important for me is being involved in the learning communities that I’m involved in – for example, my advisory learning community, offering the support, the supportive environment that it does for me to actually look at my practice and continue to reflect on particular readings that others find valuable and might actually assist me in my practice.

Gillian:

And that relationship between theory and practice?

Barbara:

Yes, yeah, absolutely. And trying to ensure that what I do believe in – my values and beliefs in theory – is actually lived out in the practice.