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Contemplative Pedagogy, Mindfulness and Reflection in Teacher Education

Karen Ragoonaden, Leslie Shayer

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education 2026 DOI: 10.25035/jche.04.01.03 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Population Educators in three cohorts: teacher education, graduate education, and professional development education
Interventions Contemplative pedagogy Mindfulness practices
Duration Nine-week mindfulness course
Topics Meditation
Key findings Themes identified indicate that a nine-week mindfulness course using contemplative pedagogy gave educators increased opportunities to reflect on self-awareness, wellbeing, and professional practice. The authors suggest that mindfulness as a contemplative pedagogy can provide non-traditional pathways for educators to reflect on their personal and professional development.

Abstract

This study explores the intersections of contemplative pedagogy, mindfulness practices and reflection in education. Contemplative pedagogy and mindfulness practices were introduced to three cohorts in teacher education, in graduate education, and in professional development education. This pedagogy and the practices provided a time, a place and a community to engage in personal and professional reflections about teaching and learning. The themes identified in this study demonstrated that engaging in contemplative pedagogy in a nine-week mindfulness course provided increased opportunities to reflect on self-awareness, on wellbeing and on the professional practice of education. The qualitative results of this study indicate that mindfulness as practice of contemplative pedagogy can provide non-traditional pathways for educators to reflect on their personal and professional pathways as they navigate the complexities of teaching and learning.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... 2017 Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system 2004 Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety 2006 Exploratory mixed methods study n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context 2001 Qualitative study n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators 2013 Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

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Meditation