Making Sense of White Identity Development: The Implications for Teacher Education

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Rieger
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Racial Identity ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
White Identity ◽  
Multicultural Awareness ◽  
Individual Life ◽  
Making Sense

AbstractThis article discusses an individualized narrative on a contribution that a White educator can add to the field of teacher education, in particular multicultural teacher education. Through sharing my individual life experiences with a process of moving from an invisible Whiteness (Clark & O’Donnell, 1999; Giroux, 1997; Helms, 1992) toward more advanced levels of multiracial and multicultural awareness, followed by a review of a theoretical model of Helms’ (1992) White Racial Identity Theory, I provide a space and a structured forum for engaging in a dialogue on the complex issues of race and Whiteness among teacher candidates.

scholarly journals Preparing teachers for emotional labour: The missing piece in teacher education

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-56
Author(s):  
Tonje Molyneux
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Teacher Shortage ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Emotional Labour

A quality education for all children and youth is required for the continued advancement of modern civilization. But this outcome is threatened by a growing international teacher shortage. Increased rates of teacher attrition and reduced rates of enrollment in teacher education programs are driving this shortage; however, research suggests that teacher candidates’ lack of preparation for the emotional labour of teaching is another important contributing factor, one which can be addressed in teacher education programs. The aim of this paper is to explore this problem and surface potential solutions. First, the social historical context of teaching is explored as an entry point to inquiry into this topic. Next, through discussion of the emotional nature of teaching, the thesis that teacher candidates must be prepared to handle the emotional labour of teaching during their teacher education program is advanced. Then, a review of the literature surfaces three key content areas which if addressed during teacher preparation can help prepare teacher candidates to handle the emotional labour of teaching: identity development, emotions and teaching, and social-emotional competence. Finally, these components are included in a theory of change for a new program that could be integrated into existing teacher education programs.

The Struggle to Professionalize Teaching: Examining edTPA as a Professionalization and Deprofessionalization Tool

2021 ◽  
Vol 123 (9) ◽  
pp. 57-86
Author(s):  
Craig De Voto ◽  
Jessica J. Gottlieb
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
The United States ◽  
Teacher Preparation Programs ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Organizational Contexts ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Embedded Case Study

Background/Context: In the United States, strengthening the professionalization of teaching and teacher education has received extensive attention. Notably, the educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) has gained traction. Developed by the Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, & Equity (SCALE) in 2009, edTPA requires teacher candidates to videotape their teaching and reflect via three different tasks: planning, instructing, and assessing. More than one third (900+) of all teacher preparation programs (TPPs) across 41 states are now using edTPA, making it the most widely used licensure assessment in the field. Objective: In this study, we examine differences in how stakeholders (i.e., administrators, faculty, and staff) within and across TPPs are making sense of edTPA. We then examine why such differences in edTPA sensemaking have transpired, including varying policy designs, organizational contexts, and individual attitudes/values. Finally, we illustrate how these differences reflect a deeper historical dilemma in teacher education between those supporting professionalism (i.e., program-specific attitudes/beliefs) and those supporting the professionalization of teaching (i.e., structural or systemic characteristics across programs). Participants: Through purposive and snowball sampling, we interviewed 69 stakeholders across eight TPPs in two states, Illinois and Iowa. These stakeholders were interviewed between 2015 and 2018, approximately 1 year after their TPP adopted edTPA (via mandate or voluntarily). Research Design: We employed a multiple embedded case study design. The first set of cases were the two states selected (Illinois and Iowa) because their policy designs differed (mandated vs. voluntary). The second set of cases were the eight TPPs selected. One-hour interviews were conducted with each of the 69 stakeholders across these case TPPs. Using a sensemaking conceptual framework, instrumental case analysis was then used to examine how stakeholders made sense of edTPA and why. Findings/Results: We found diverse perspectives across our case TPPs as to how stakeholders viewed and implemented edTPA—as either a professionalization or a deprofessionalization tool. Those espousing a view of professionalization supported the assessment as a means to strengthen the profession’s perceived legitimacy and quality, whereas those espousing a view of deprofessionalization believed that it is detrimental in these regards. We argue that this divergence reflects enduring disagreement concerning the mechanisms that define “good” teaching and how best to measure it. Conclusions: We found that structural changes, such as edTPA adoption, may move a field toward being more or less professionalized, but those changes do not guarantee alignment or agreement among the professionals within that workforce. Improving this dilemma within teacher education therefore begins with coming to some reasonable consensus on how best to balance professionalization and professionalism.

scholarly journals White Racial Identity Models

1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne Rowe ◽  
Sandra K. Bennett ◽  
Donald R. Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
Racial Identity ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
White Identity ◽  
Racial Identity Development ◽  
Racial Consciousness ◽  
White Racial Identity ◽  
White Racial Consciousness ◽  
Adaptive Models ◽  
Identity Attitudes ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Existing models of White racial identity development (WRID) are challenged as being deficient in terms of: (a) being based on the oppression-adaptive models of minority identity development, (b) focusing primarily on attitudes toward racial/ethnic out-groups, not on White identity attitudes; and (c) depicting the process as developmental in nature. An alternative conceptualization, based on the construct of White racial consciousness, is presented as a more parsimonious explanation for the role of racially oriented attitudes. Three types of unachieved White racial consciousness (avoidant, dependent, and dissonant) are proposed along with four types of achieved White racial consciousness (dominative, conflictive, reactive, and integrative). Changes in attitudes characteristic of one type to those more representative of another are explained in terms of dissonance reduction. Information is provided regarding the availability of an assessment device designed to identify the types of White racial consciousness.

Out in Time

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perry N. Halkitis
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Generational Differences ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Sexual Identity Development ◽  
Three Generations ◽  
American Society

The life experiences and sexual identity development of three generations of gay men, the Stonewall, AIDS, and Queer generations, are explored. While there are generational differences in the lived experiences of young gay men shaped by the sociopolitical contexts of the historical epoch in which they emerged into adulthood, and a crisis that has come to define each generation, there also are consistencies across generations and across time in the psychological process of coming out that defines identity formation of gay men, as these individuals transition from a period of sexual identity awareness to sexual identity integration. The life experiences are also shaped by conceptions of hypermasculinity, racism and discrimination, substance use, and adventurous sexuality. Despite the many challenges that have defined the lives of gay men across time and that are informed by the homophobia of American society, the vast majority of the population also has demonstrated resilience and fortitude in achieving both pride and dignity. These ideas are explored through the life narratives of fifteen diverse gay men, across the three generations.

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