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What Do We Do When We Practice, Reflectively?

Dvora Yanow, VU University Amsterdam

Description

Semester:

  • Fall 2009

Speakers:

Dvora Yanow, Organizations and Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, VU University Amsterdam

Lecture Time:

Fri, November 6, 2009 @ 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Lecture Location:

Room K1310, Ross School of Business

Speaker Webpage(s):

http://www.fsw.vu.nl/en/departments/culture-organization-and-management/staff/yanow/index.asp

Introduced By:

No introduction available.

Abstract

What does it mean to reflect, reflectively?

Dvora Yanow
Strategic Chair in Meaning & Method
Faculty of Social Sciences
Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam
d.yanow@fsw.vu.nl

For presentation at the ICOS Seminar,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
6 November 2009

Abstract

We expect novices to make mistakes or to behave in ways not in keeping with the criteria of expert performance of a practice they are in the midst of learning. We do not expect this of “professionals” – those who have mastered their craft. Hence, the errors or “misbehaviors” surprise, and puzzle. Much practice theory looks at how novices become masters; this paper looks at mastery itself and the problematics of its practice. It is physically not possible to sustain the level of focal awareness required in novice-ry; moving certain things to a subsidiary awareness is required if we are to “perform.” Otherwise, we are like the centipede in Mstislav Rostropovich’s masterclass example who, when asked what his 59th leg is doing when #37 is up, simply freezes mid-stride. Schon’s “reflective practice” theory was intended to promote interventions in practice that would promote less automatic execution. Does it solve the problematic of unthinking professional practice? Might some things that are “unlearned” in the process of mastering a practice be crucial to successful practicing, i.e., without which other sorts of problems surface? And might this give us better leverage on the problem than reflection tout cour? Drawing on literatures ranging from (collective) organizational learning to science studies, I try to look at reflection, reflectively.

Recording & Additional Notes

Introducer: Lok-Sze Wong, Educational Administration and Policy