Analysis of critical incidents in the professional teaching identity of novice special education teachers

Abstract

This research study describes episodes that condition the professional careers of novice special education teachers graduated from a Chilean university by using the critical incident analysis technique. Teaching identity is an essential concept in the initial and continuous training of teachers. The present study applies a biographical-narrative with a sample of 23 novice teachers. A semi-structured interview is applied. The results show that prototypical critical incidents are identified by weakly efficient resolution strategies that challenge teacher training. These incidents allow understanding the changes that teachers experience throughout their professional careers and that has guided them to take new personal and professional directions. It is concluded that understanding what aspects develop professional teaching identity provides elements that, through their analysis and application, can guide future training of special education teachers by enriching teaching theory and practice.