Abstract
This paper presents research findings in relation to the multiple identities of students undertaking early childhood field-based initial teacher education (FBITE). The research draws on the understanding that social actors hold multiple identities based on membership across a myriad of social groups, or communities. Data was gathered using qualitative surveys from first year and final year students from across four early childhood field-based initial teacher education programmes within Aotearoa New Zealand. Additional data was also gathered using focus groups with teacher educators on these programmes. Analysis of the data shows that the academic identity of students is influenced by multiple identities relating to the interrelationship between membership of academic, professional and personal communities in relation to social, role and personal identities. The research findings provide an account of the academic identities of students in field-based study and aspects of consideration for ongoing programme design and development.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Archer, M. (2010). Reflexivity. http://bit.ly/2GVtPf6
Berzonsky, M. D. (2004). Identity processing style, self-construction, and personal epistemic assumptions: A social-cognitive perspective. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 1(4), 303–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405620444000120.
Bourdieu, P. (1989). Social space and symbolic power. Sociological Theory, 7(1), 14–25.
Brennan, M., Everiss, L., & Mara, D. (2010). An exploration of field-based early childhood teacher education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Wellington: Teaching and Learning Research Initiative). http://www.tlri.org.nz/sites/default/files/projects/9272_finalreport_0.pdf
Careersnz mana rapuara aotearoa. (2014). Early childhood teacher. http://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs/education/early-childhood-teacher/about-the-job
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education (6th ed.). London: Routledge.
Conde, I. (2011). Crossed concepts: Identity, habitus and reflexivity in a revised framework (Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia No. 113/2011). Portugal: Instituto Universitário de Lisboa. http://www.cies.iscte.pt/destaques/documents/CIES-WP113_Conde.pdf
Dias, P., Freedman, A., Medway, P., & Pare, A. (1999). Worlds apart: Acting and writing in academic and workplace contexts. Mahwah: L. Erlbaum Associates.
Dunham, N. (2017). Field-based early childhood student teachers — who are they and what challenges do they face? NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, Special Issue: Early Childhood Teachers and Their Work, 20(2), 50–65.
Findsen, B. (2009). The professionalism of adult educators: Issues and challenges. Journal of Adult Learning Aotearoa New Zealand, 37(1), 27–43.
Finlay, L. (2009). Debating phenomenological research methods. Phenomenology and Practice, 3(1), 6–25.
Gee, J. (1996). Social linguistics and literacies: Ideology in discourses (2nd ed.). London: Taylor & Francis.
Gee, J. (2001). Literacy, discourse, and linguistics: Introduction and what is literacy? In E. Cushman, et al. (Eds.), Literacy: A critical sourcebook (pp. 525–544). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Gee, J. (2006). Situated language and learning: A critique of traditional schooling. New York: Routledge.
Gergen, K. J. (2011). Relational being: Beyond self and community. New York: Oxford University Press.
Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. London: Penguin.
Hall, S. (1996). Who needs identity? In S. Hall & P. Du Gay (Eds.), Questions of cultural identity (pp. 15–30). London: Sage.
Henkel, M. (2005). Academic identity and autonomy in a changing policy environment. Higher Education, 49(1–2), 155–176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-004-2919-1.
Ladkin, D. (2005). ‘The enigma of subjectivity’: How might phenomenology help action researchers negotiate the relationship between ‘self’, ‘other’ and ‘truth’? Action Research, 3(1), 108–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476750305049968.
Lea, M. (2004). Academic literacies: A pedagogy for course design. Studies in Higher Education, 29(6), 739–756. https://doi.org/10.1080/0307507042000287230.
LeCourt, D. (2004). Identity matters: Schooling the student body in academic discourse. Albany: State University of New York Press.
McCaslin, M. (2009). Co-regulation of student motivation and emergent identity. Educational Psychologist, 44(2), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520902832384.
Merriam, S., Caffarella, R., & Baumgartner, L. (2007). Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Northedge, A. (2003). Rethinking teaching in the context of diversity. Teaching in Higher Education, 8(1), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1356251032000052302.
Oliva-Girbau, A., & Milian-Gubern, M. (2012). First year students’ construction of an academic identity in English as a foreign language. Revista de Docencia Universitaria, 11(1), 59–77.
Oyserman, D., Elmore, K., & Smith, G. (2012). Self, self-concept and identity. In M. R. Leary, et al. (Eds.), Handbook of self and identity (2nd ed., pp. 69–104). New York: Guilford Press.
Patton, M. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Perry, K. (2012). What is literacy? A critical review of sociocultural perspectives. Journal of Language and Literacy Education, 8(1), 50–71.
St. Claire, K. (1999). A case against compulsory class attendance policies in higher education. Innovative Higher Education, 23(3), 171–180.
Stets, J., & Burke, P. (2005). A sociological approach to self and identity. In M. R. Leary, et al. (Eds.), Handbook of self and identity (pp. 128–152). New York: Guilford Press.
Street, B. (2003). What’s “new” in new literacy studies? Critical approaches to literacy in theory and practice. Current Issues in Comparative Education, 5(2), 77–91. http://devweb.tc.columbia.edu/i/a/document/25734_5_2_Street.pdf.
Thomas, L. (2012). Building student engagement and belonging in higher education at a time of change: Final report from the what works? Student retention and success programme. London: Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Topp, W. (2000). Knowledge system diagnostics: Applying Foucault’s archaeological framework to organizations. Systematic Research and Behavioural Science, 17(4), 365–374. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1743(200007/08)17:4%3c365:AID-SRES309%3e3.0.CO;2-K.
Van Manen, M. (1997). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy (2nd ed.). London: Althouse Press.
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
Wenger, E. (2010). Communities of practice and social learning systems: The career of a concept. In C. Blackmore (Ed.), Social learning systems and communities of practice (p. 179). London: Springer.
White, J. W., & Lowenthal, P. R. (2011). Minority College Students and Tacit “Codes of Power”: Developing academic discourses and identities. The Review of Higher Education, 34(2), 283–318. https://doi.org/10.1353/rhe.2010.0028.
Yin, R. (2009). Case study research: Design and methods (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Yorke, M. (2006). Student engagement: Deep, surface or strategic? Presented at the Engaging Students. 9th Pacific Rim Conference First Year in Higher Education, Griffith University, Australia 12–14 July.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dunham, N. Multiple Identities of Field-Based Early Childhood Education Student Teachers. NZ J Educ Stud 53, 275–288 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-018-0116-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-018-0116-5