On The role of Deliberate and reflective practice in acquiring new teaching skills.

K. Anders Ericsson et al (1993) define deliberate practice as acquisition of expert performance through prolonged efforts to improve performance. This quote from Bruce Lee clarifies this a bit more:

‘I fear not the man who has practiced 10 000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10000 times’ (Lee, Date unknown).

Deliberate practice and reflection can be used to acquire new and important teaching skills rapidly. Proponents of deliberate practice identify these as its major strengths in helping you acquire new skills quickly:

• It is explicitly intended to improve practice • Reaches for objectives just slightly beyond your level of competence (relate this to Vygotsky’s ZPD) • Provides feedback on results (reflection) • Involves high levels of repetition (Manning, C. 2009)

Let us explore this topic further using the New Teacher Guide:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1527298183/ref=cx_skuctr_share?smid=A3MG1HIPVT9JDV