An Enquiring Practitioner is someone who takes on the responsibility of carrying out practice based research, in order to enhance their own learning, as an individual or collaboratively with others. Looking more specifically into the teaching profession, this idea of ongoing research enables them to be more engaged with their own learning which as a result enhances a child’s development through their practices.Outlined within the Donaldson report, it is now a vital procedure of good practice for individuals to adopt even as early as student teachers like myself.

The benefits of being an enquiry practitioner are endless; it should become a daily aspect in order to promote reflection and critical evaluation within and outside the classroom. First and foremost it allows teachers to monitor their own practices and highlights areas where they can build and develop on. This should as a result empower them as professionals as they can investigate new strategies to adopt and allows them to expand on their knowledge and widen their horizons. Just by taking this time to reflect back and critique their own methods should enhance their pupil’s development and attainment level in the long run.

Working collaboratively as enquiry practitioners can be effective also, again this idea of carrying out research and reflecting back on practices although this time with the eyes and ears of others can trigger whole new perspectives.

Although this procedure is seen as an integral part of the teaching profession like anything there are challenges present. It can be seen as very time consuming, as professionals, teachers are renowned for having many responsibilities so this added pressure of continuously carrying out research and expanding on their own methods and practices can be rushed and not as thorough as required. For this reason alone it is essential that as a new teacher I try to adopt this approach early so that it becomes very natural and therefore attainable. Like anything individuals tend to feel more at ease when they have a routine, teachers are no different they can sometimes find themselves set in their ways concerning their lessons and teaching styles. As a result this idea of critiquing their strategies on a regular basis can become a very uncomfortable experience and a little overwhelming.

 Carrying out enquiry practice as a group can pose equally many challenges, more so with the way in which they work together. Reflection can be such a personal skill, that it will then be inevitable for dispute to occur regarding a difference of opinions. Within a group dynamic there is also often a contrast of characters so some individuals may try to take more of a dominant role which will affect the overall group atmosphere. As a result the motivation will be hindered due to there not being an equal social responsibility amongst all members.

I feel it is important that I come to terms with being an enquiring practitioner if I am to succeed as a student teacher. It will be beneficial to reflect on a personal level of how my initial practices go and I can use them as a benchmark to build from for my future teaching career. It will also inspire my practices as I work with experienced teachers and gather advice to start to build up my own repertoire.

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