USING REFLECTION WHEEL JOURNALS TO IMPROVE TEACHING

PRACTICE IN EFL TEACHERS IN ECUADOR

By
Henry Guatemal Cadena

Capstone Project
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the TESOL Certificate
Teach English Caribbean Program
University of the West Indies
Barbados

June-2016

Abstract (250 words maxim)

Table of Contents

Statement of Problem

It is not a secret that there is a problem within the Ecuadorian English Teaching environment.
Thus, even though there have been some advances, especially in regard to the preparation of
teachers, and the announce to the government of getting B2 level for all of the teachers, it is
likely that many Ecuadorian teachers, do not know much about the methods and the contents
they are in charged to teach. This has negatively impacted on the proficiency the teachers have as
well as the performance of students. A possible cause of that is the absence of further
preparation, and what is worst, on the lack of reflection about teaching practice and its relation
with the success of students. As a consequence of the background mentioned, it lies a question of
research question:
How could the teaching practice be fostered using the reflecting wheel journal in Ecuadorian
EFL Teachers?
Rationale:
Rationale

This research paper has been written to offer a different perspective of the lack of understanding
phenomena. It will develop the teaching practice through the use of the reflection wheel journal
strategy. The topic addresses the lack awareness of some teachers regarding to their practice as
the cause of the problematic of lack of proficiency in Ecuadorian schools. As there are many
articles which refer to the students as the cause of the problems, this contribution sees the
students as the solution. It is based on the idea that teachers need to base their practice on

students necessity rather that teacher opinions, as a result this will be a contribution to solve the
dicotonomy that exists between teaching practice and the objectives planted for students that
actually exist. The aim is to teach based on what students need to know using what students are
able to in order to foster the learning. In addition, this will be an important contribution to the
education field as they teachers will be able to find tangible strategies to reflect on daily
activities, as teacher sometimes do not realize about our goals, first as an academic people nor as
participant on the teaching language process. Moreover, students will be aided as their teacher
are not going to think on them as the cause of all of the problems and the thoughtfulness of the
rules as the panacea of all the problems. Furthermore, the schools and academy will have a
source of investigation done respecting students biographies, not only respecting the background
of the students but also taking the information knowledge and culture that students have as an
asset. As a result, society will be benefited as education will be working on what is now needed
to have a students centered process with a teacher staff which is permanently searching for
professional and academic growth.

Review of Literature:

Describe relevant learning

State research questions or state curriculum problem
State purpose of research study or state purpose of curriculum project
State theoretical framework

Introduction to the Review

Subheadings (the sections/categories the review divides into)
Summary of the Review

Methodology:
Design of Study
Subjects (or Participants
--whichever term applies to the study)
Procedures: Data Collection
Data Analysis

M
Results

Summarize the collected data and the analysis performed

Present enough data to justify the conclusions
Present all data, including those that run counter to expectation and missing data

Results and Interpretation

Results
Reliability of Data
Interpretation of Data
Discussion and Conclusion

Evaluate and interpret the implications of results or reflect the curriculum development.
Draw inferences and conclusions from results
Emphasize theoretical or practical consequences of results
Similarities and differences between your results and the work of others should be used:
to contextualize, confirm, and clarify your conclusions.
Reflect on curriculum development.
Did your final curriculum project match your research question and design? How so?
What are the limitations of the curriculum project? How would you do it differently next

time? What are the implications of it?

How will you use and disseminate this curriculum project? Future plans?

Overview of Study and Findings

Significance of the Findings
Limitations of the Findings
Conclusion: Answer to the Research Question
Recommendations for Future Research
(or plans for actionsuch as using data to influence own teaching practices)

References (APA Current edition)

Appendix (copies of research instruments or data analysis charts)
Topic: Cats Make Better Pets than Dogs.
Introduction
Thesis Statement
Cats are preferred more than dogs because they are more independent, consume less and easy to
transport.
II Independence
A:
B:
III Consumption
A.
B.
C.
Transportation:
A.
B.
C.
Conclusion:
Introduction
Problem Statement
Rationale
Methodology
Qualitative
Concepts
Theories
Review of Literature
Discussion