Tools that Facilitate the Reflective Process: Supporting the Learning and Development of College Educators

The author discusses an ongoing study that focuses on one particular concept, personal and professional reflection, as a means toward learning and development for educators working within the system of higher education. The purpose of this paper is to give greater attention to the tools component within the Event Path model, a reflective process that emerged from the data. Faculty members were asked to define reflection and discuss tools they use to facilitate their reflection. A thorough description of those tools and the characteristics associated with them is detailed. The author argues that faculty members and other professionals must realize that a diverse collection of tools exist and using the most appropriate tool can increase the likelihood that they will have an improved capacity to be reflective teachers and researchers, ultimately improving their professional practices