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Mapping ecologies of practice: a framework for reflective teaching and academic development in higher education

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

E-pub ahead of print
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>18/05/2025
<mark>Journal</mark>Higher Education Research and Development
Number of pages18
Publication StatusE-pub ahead of print
Early online date18/05/25
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Critical reflection on teaching is essential for educators to develop a strong rationale for their practice. However, fully grasping the complexity of social practices within the classroom requires a more nuanced approach. To make their reflective work influential for enhancement, it is important for educators to incorporate the broader conditioning factors influencing classroom practices, including the dynamic interplay between teaching, learning, and assessment practices. This paper proposes an enhancement-focused framework for educators to identify, analyse and, crucially, reflect on these intricate ecologies of practice. The framework emerged from a study examining how social practices are constituted and shaped across nine university course sites. It serves as a practical tool for unpacking interconnected practices and understanding the factors that condition them. Using a specific example, this paper demonstrates how the framework can inform and support reflective teaching practices. It also shows how academic developers can employ the framework to enhance teaching practice in their institutions.