The Hierarchy of Reflective Practice in Physical Education: a Decision Map for Technical Reflection-in-Action

The Hierarchy of Reflective Practice in Physical Education has been developed to provide a framework for reflective practice in physical education teacher education. Reflective practice literature points to the need for teacher candidates to develop an internal voice to help guide the reflective process, during and after instruction. The Decision Map for Technical Reflection-in-Action is an outgrowth of the lowest level of this Hierarchy. This Decision Map can be used by physical education teacher educators when introducing and reinforcing reflective practice to teacher candidates in the beginning of an initial preparation program. The Decision Map should guide inexperienced candidates both in prioritizing technical concerns as well as in selection of the best action to take in routine instructional episodes. Ideally, the Decision Map for Technical Reflection-in-Action will become reflexive in nature, allowing candidates to focus on broader tasks such as deliberative or personalistic reflection earlier in the preparation program.