Dilemma Identification

I've based this exercise on Tripp's approaches to analysing teaching incidents*.  He asserts that the complexity of a teacher's role stems in part from the huge number of decisions that teachers are forced to make, from moment to moment, throughout the teaching day.  By seeing the problems and issues that arise as dilemmas, created for rather than by us, we can begin to understand the policies and principles that motivate our actions.

Also, although we can never know what might have occurred if we had taken an alternate course of action, we rarely give ourselves space to reflect on alternatives or possibilities...

• Firstly, think of a recent experience and pin down a moment at which you were forced to make a decision.
• List all of your choices at that moment in time?
• What did you decide/to do? Why?
• If your decision resulted in some form of action, reflect on what might of occurred if you decided not to act.
• Finally, consider an alternate course of action/decision (even if it's against your better judgement). Describe and reflect on 3 possible outcomes.

(Tripp, 2011)

*This is a first draft of a systematic reflective approach to applying Tripp's theories - any feedback warmly welcomed.

Reference
Tripp, D. (2011) Critical Incidents in Teaching: Developing Professional Judgement.  London: New York: Routledge Falmer.