Preparing Teacher Candidates for the Present: The Praxis of Mindfulness as Reflection in Action

• In Event: Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: Analyzing In-Service and Preservice Teachers’ Knowledge, Identities, and Agency

Abstract

Teacher Education is based on preparing teachers for the future. In this study, mindfulness training was integrated into teacher preparation to investigate the value of preparing teacher candidates for the present. This qualitative study followed an action research design; 21 teacher candidates were interviewed over three semesters about their development of reflective practice in the context of mindfulness training. Findings highlight the importance of present-moment awareness as a foundational skill for reflection-in-action. Although reflective practice is commonly regarded as important in teacher education, mindfulness training offers novel strategies for developing the competencies of reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action.

Author

• Geoffrey B. Soloway