ONION REFLECTION MODEL / CORE REFLECTION

BY KORTHAGEN
Source: The onion
model: A model of
levels of change
(Korthagen
Professional
Development, 2018)

Retrieved from:
https://researchoutr
each.org/articles/le
arning-lead-group-r
eflection-help-train-
school-leaders/
THE LAYERS, EXPLAINED (KORTHAGEN, 2014, P.7-8)

“1. The environment. This layer refers to everything that a person encounters outside of themself. In the case of a teacher, this involves the
whole classroom setting, the subject matter, the school culture with all its implicit and explicit norms, and so forth. […]
2. Behaviour. This refers to what the teacher does, how they cope with the challenges in the environment, […].
3. Competencies. This layer involves what the teacher is competent at doing.
4. Beliefs. This layer refers to what the teacher believes about the situation they are dealing with. With the term 'beliefs' we refer to
assumptions about the outer world, which are often unconscious.
5. Identity. This layer refers to teachers' assumptions about themselves, their self-concepts and the professional roles they see for themselves.
6. Mission. This layer is concerned with what inspires us, and what gives meaning and significance to our work or our lives. Whereas the
layer of identity has to do with how we see ourselves, the layer of mission is about our ideals.”
7. Core qualities. “In the center of the onion model we locate the teacher's core qualities, such as enthusiasm, curiosity, courage,
steadfastness, decisiveness, openness, flexibility, and so forth. The term core qualities was coined by Ofman (2000), and the concept concurs
with the notion of character strengths in positive psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). “
 Onion Layer Interview Question – Specific situation
Environment Think of a specific situation you had to deal with.
EXAMINE A What happened? What external influences do you
SPECIFIC feel contributed to the problem?

SITUATION TO
Behavior What did you do in response to this issue?
EXPLORE THE
Competencies What competence does this situation link to? Is
COMPETENCIES, this a strength or weakness for you usually?
BELIEFS AND Beliefs What beliefs about yourself or the situation do you
SENSE OF feel influenced your behaviour?
IDENTITY AND Identity How does this situation make you reflect on your
role as an English/German/etc! teacher?
MISSION AT IT’S
Mission How does this situation link to your mission as an
CORE English/German/etc! teacher?
Core Qualities What character strength did you tap into in this
situation?
 Onion Layer Interview Question – General situation
Core Qualities What do you feel are your character strengths which you
channel as a teacher?
Think in general Mission Why did you choose to become an English/German/etc!
about your core teacher?
Identity How do you see your role as an English/German/etc!
qualities, mission, teacher?
identity and beliefs Beliefs Do you have any limiting beliefs that might hinder or
negatively influence your teaching?
and how these shape
Competencies What are your top competencies and skills as a teacher?
your actions in certain
situations. Behavior How do you behave when something problematic
happens in class?
Environment What are the biggest external problems that may affect
your in-class performance?
REFERENCES / FURTHER READING

 Daniëls, E. (2020). Learning to lead: Can group reflection help train school leaders? Research OUTREACH, 118.
Available at: https://researchoutreach.org/articles/learning-lead-group-reflection-help-train-school-leaders/
 Korthagen, F. A. J. (2014). Promoting core reflection in teacher education: Deepening professional growth. In: L. Orland-
Barak & C. J. Craig (Eds), International Teacher Education: Promising pedagogies (Part A), (pp. 73-89). Bingley, UK:
Emerald. Retrieved from: https://korthagen.nl/en/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Promoting-core-reflection.pdf