Visual Representations of Teacher Identity: Reality or Hyperreality?

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 36
  In Roundtable Session: Examining Self: Understanding Teacher Identity and Beliefs

Abstract

A visual analysis was conducted to understand the professional teacher identities of 16 international educators. The results from this study indicated that teacher professional identities aligned to institutional definitions of teaching with teacher as learner as the most dominant identity expressed. Leveraging Baudrillard’s concepts of simulacra and hyperreality, the results from this study challenge us to reconsider the teacher identities as a simulation of institutional perspectives of teaching. It is suggested that examining the anomalies in teacher identity may provide new opportunities to (re)imagine how to better support teachers and public education.

Authors

• Ann Walker Nielsen, Arizona State University

• Kevin Winn, Arizona State University - Tempe

• Janna Goebel, Arizona State University