Does involuntary mental time travel make sense in prospective teachers' feelings and behaviours during lessons?

Abstract

This study examined the effects of involuntary mental time travel into the past and into the future on prospective teachers' feelings and behaviors during the period of a class hour. A total of 110 prospective teachers participated voluntarily in the study. Theresults of the present study showed that (a) the involuntary mental time travel into the past and into the future occurred in the classrooms even during the period of a class hour; (b) both involuntary memories/future images were significantly discernible in terms of their characteristics; (c) the characteristics of the participants' feelings and behavior following the involuntary memories/future images were evident; and (d) the characteristics of the involuntary memories/future images had a significant effect on the prospective teachers' feelings and learning related behaviors. Implications for teacher education and directions for future studies were also discussed.