iReflectNow: Scaffolding for Preservice Teachers' Reflection-in-Action for Culturally Responsive Teaching

• In Event: Dismantling Deficit Perspectives in Teacher Education

Abstract

Critical reflection is necessary for culturally responsive teaching in diverse classrooms. Lacking teaching experience in real classrooms, pre-service teachers find critical reflection challenging. In this research, iReflectNow, a digital scaffolding tool, was implemented to promote pre-service teachers’ critical reflection for culturally responsive teaching. Five participants are reported in this multi-case qualitative study. They analyzed four cultural case scenarios in iReflectNow. Findings of the study suggest that (a) scaffolding triggers noticing of cultural aspects in dilemmas encountered in diverse classrooms during reflection and (b) depth of pre-service teachers’ reflection for culturally responsive teaching interacts with multiple dimensions beyond scaffolding, such as sharing reflections with peers and their own previous cultural experiences.
Keywords: reflection-in-action, culturally responsive teaching, digital scaffolding, teacher education

Authors

• Duygu Umutlu, Bogazici University

• ChanMin Kim, Pennsylvania State University