Negotiating teacher identity: Exploring the use of electronic teaching portfolios with preservice English Teachers

Abstract

Electronic portfolio use within the context of a teacher education program is explored in this article. Although the use of e-portfolios has emerged as a topic that integrates new technologies and the education of preservice teachers, little work thus far has documented the complexities involved in the authoring process of e-portfolios. To address this gap, this article focuses on two preservice teachers' processes of crafting e-portfolios. Specifically, the article documents the realities of presenting oneself to multiple audiences through the vehicle of the electronic teaching portfolio. The term teacher identity is introduced as a way to describe preservice teachers' need to present themselves through the e-portfolio as both “competent beginning teachers” and “inquisitive college students.” The author analyzes interviews with preservice teachers, concluding that e-portfolios can be viewed as potential spaces for important talk about teacher identity

Reference

Hallman, H. L. (2007). Negotiating teacher identity: Exploring the use of electronic teaching portfolios with preservice english Teachers. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 50(6), 474-485.

Journal

Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy

Analysis

Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?

yes

Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?

Research Approach

Ethnographic

Geographic Setting

Midwestern USA
United States

Institutional Context

University based

Certification Level

Secondary

Programatic Focus

English

Research Location Context

University

Preservice Participants

Undergraduates (university based program)

Preservice Sample Size

Duration of Data Collection

Academic Semester

Data Sources

Interviews

Data Analysis Tools

Constant comparative analysis
Discourse Analysis (Gee, 1999 framework)

Researcher Positionality

inside (staying their own students)

Research Questions

What can the construction of e-portfolios tell us about the identity processes of preservice teachers?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? No

How might the use of e-portfolios within teacher education programs influence the process of becoming a teacher?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Combination

Why do preservice teachers frequently try to present coherent and competent identities as beginning professionals while also undertaking the notion of identity building as a fluid, ongoing process?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Combination