An analysis of teachers perceptions through metaphors: Prospective Turkish teachers of science, math and social science in secondary education

Abstract

In this study, teachers' perceptions of prospective Turkish teachers (that is, those who have completed their undergraduate studies) in the fields of Science, Mathematics and Social Sciences are investigated through teacher metaphors. These perceptions were classified in accordance with their answers to two open-ended questions within a metaphoric structure used as the data collection tool. This classification employs the tripartite metaphorical classification developed by Martínez et al. and includes the following perspectives: Transmissive, constructivist, and situative. In the study, 58 different teacher metaphors were identified. As a result of the research, metaphors within the Transmissive class were observed predominantly in prospective teachers of both groups, followed by Constructivist in prospective Science and Math teachers, and Situative in prospective Social Science teachers. Findings from the study are also discussed within the scope of relevant literature.