Investigation of the development of reflective thinking skills in teaching of pre - service teachers

This study aimed both to pre-service teachers reflective thinking and to reveal development of the reflective thinking during the process of teaching and learning. This study was designed in the form of action research due to the nature of the case examined. The participants were 32 pre-service teachers at Bayburt University Faculty of Education Department of Elementary Science Education. Video recordings, semi-structured interviews, self-assessment forms and reflective journals were used to collect the data for study. The qualitative data obtained were analysed using the content analysis method. Located pre-service teachers in the study group reveals that they provide the level of development of reflective thinking of the majority. However, the work of reflective thinking, planning a course for pre-service teachers participating in this study was shown to contribute to the professional development for the implementation and evaluation. The work done to improve the process of reflective thinking of pre-service teachers is determined to have a level reflecting the start of the technical field. At later stages of the process pre-service teacher are determined level of application and critical reflection levels. In this context, experience of pre-service teachers and reflection on these experiences provide that Professional development for the planning, implementation and evaluation of a lesson. Keywords: Reflective Thinking, Reflective Thinking Levels, Pre-service Teachers, Professional Development.