Mahsa Izadinia’s research while affiliated with Edith Cowan University and other places

Preservice teachers’ identity development is a complex process requiring the coordination of varied internal and external factors. Internal motivations to teach, as strong as they are, might be colored by external factors influencing preservice teachers’ understanding and experiences of the teaching process. Although teacher education might have less control over the internal factors, they can significantly impact the experiences preservice teachers gain during practicum and positively shape their identity development. Mentor teachers as one of the main parties involved in teacher education exert considerable influence on preservice teachers’ understanding of who they are as a teacher and what they are capable of doing. This chapter looks at the relationship between mentor teachers and preservice teachers during practicum to unpack how mentoring and mentor teachers’ practices and mentoring approaches can motivate preservice teachers to continue as a teacher.

The purpose of this study was to examine pre-service teachers’ and their mentor teachers’ metaphorical images of their mentoring relationships and the extent to which the participants changed their metaphors as they went through their practicum experience. Three rounds of interviews were conducted with seven secondary pre-service teachers over a one-year Graduate-Diploma of Education Course; at the outset of the programme, at the end of the first placement and at the end of the second placement. Thirteen Mentor teachers were also interviewed at the beginning and end of each placement. The findings indicated that the metaphors the two groups initially constructed significantly overlapped and focused on interpersonal relationships and providing guidance and support. Also, some changes were observed in the metaphors used by the two groups depending on their mentoring experiences. Implications for mentor teachers and teacher education are discussed.

This study focuses on two preservice teachers who experienced significantly different mentoring relationships in their two placements during a one-year teaching degree in a university in Western Australia. Data were collected through three rounds of semistructured interviews, reflective journals and classroom observations. The findings indicated that mentor teachers' mentoring styles considerably informed the preservice teachers' perceptions of themselves as teachers and facilitated or inhibited their professional development. Implications for practice include teacher education programs invest more time and rigour in selecting and preparing mentors for their crucial role.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine changes in eight preservice teachers’ professional identity and the factors contributing to such changes during a four-week block practicum. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study design was used and the data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with preservice teachers and their mentors, reflective journals and observation checklists. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Findings – The findings showed high levels of confidence and development of teacher voice by the end of their four-week block practicum. The findings also suggested that positive mentoring relationships contributed to changes in the preservice teachers’ teacher identity. Research limitations/implications – Despite focussing on a relatively small number of preservice secondary teachers during the first four-week practicum of a single teacher education program at a Western Australian University, this research highlights the need to maintain constructive mentoring relationships with preservice teachers to provide positive influences on their professional identity. In order to facilitate this, preservice teacher education programs should provide thorough training for mentor teachers. Originality/value – This work highlighted the crucial role of mentor teachers in creating positive impacts on preservice teachers’ professional identity, such as development of their confidence and teacher voice. This paper provides useful insights for researchers, mentor teachers, and preservice teacher education policy developers.

This paper focuses on the extent to which mentoring relationships played a role in creating changes in the professional identity of seven preservice teachers. Semi-structured interviews, observations and reflective journals were used to document the changes experienced by participants as they went through their two placements during their one-year teacher education course. The data indicated that when the mentoring relationships were positive and expectations were met, preservice teachers felt more confident as a teacher. However, for some participants, who experienced a partially negative mentoring relationship, their confidence declined and they felt they did not improve. Implications for practice are discussed.

The purpose of this study is to examine the similarities between mentor teachers’ espoused theories and theories-in-use. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 mentor teachers to investigate their perceived mentoring roles prior to the placement. Their seven pre-service teachers were also interviewed at the end of the practicum to explore their ideas and evaluation of their mentors’ mentoring practices. The findings suggest that 14 mentor teachers did put into practice their ideas regarding their roles. However, only two mentor teachers appeared to act against their espoused theories. Implications for practice are discussed.

This study examines similarities and differences between mentor teachers’ and student teachers’ perceptions of the components of a positive mentoring relationship and its impact on the identity formation of student teachers. In addition to the interview data, the participants were asked to use metaphors to describe the mentoring relationship. The findings indicated that there was no serious dispute between their ideas and both parties considered encouragement and support, an open line of communication and feedback as the most significant elements. They also used metaphorical images such as guiding, parenting and training, verifying the importance of support and nurturing in the mentoring relationship. However, a difference was identified in participants’ attitudes of the impact of the mentoring relationship on student teachers’ identity formation. Based on the findings it is suggested that mentor teachers consider the significance of the mentoring relationship on development of student teachers’ identity.

Using the data from the lives of two Iranian women, I focus on how context and self impact the process of identity formation. My aim of the present study is to empower and emancipate women by highlighting the significance of knowing who they are and holding on to their dreams, values, and choices especially when the social and family contexts are limiting and oppressive. Elaborating on the concept of identity and its significance for human development, I discuss the life stories of the two Iranian women and their major challenges. I explain how they gradually dissociated from who they were and wanted to be as they readily gave in and underestimated the power of self. I conclude by sharing my own experiences and providing some suggestions for finishing strong.

Although an author is defined as someone who has made substantial contributions to a research study, sometimes power relations in student-supervisor collaborations play a more determining role in attribution of authorship. This article reflects the ideas of eight Iranian postgraduate Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) students about authorship policies and practices at their universities. The interview data indicate that the participants were not involved in authorship decisions and authorship credits were given based on their supervisors’ positions and seniority rather than their contribution to students’ research. The participants also described unfair authorship experiences affecting their motivation, interest in academia, self-confidence, etc. It is recommended that faculty members and policy-makers in TEFL programs in Iran engage in ongoing open discussions about authorship policies and decision-making with students to avoid creating negative feelings and unpleasant experiences for students which might lead to a legacy of unfair authorship practices.

Research suggests that the development of a teacher educator identity is a central process in becoming a teacher educator. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the concept of teacher identity. However, teacher educator identity seems to be still under-researched. In this article, a review of literature on teacher educator identity is provided. Fifty-two research papers were analysed to identify challenges and tensions teacher educators experience during their induction, factors which influence the development of their professional identity, and the features that induction programmes should have. The findings suggested that new teacher educators generally develop negative self-views about their abilities and professional identities. Self-support and community support activities were found to facilitate teacher educators’ transition and enhance their identity development. Key features of academic induction were identified as acting as a learning community, cultivating supportive and professional relationships, encouraging self-enquiry and research and involving teacher educators in reflective activities.