Learning and Changing: The Shaping of a Teacher’s Identity through Time, Across Spaces and in Different Contexts

Abstract

This research paper explores the confluence of significant events in my life that shaped my identity as a teacher and researcher. I employed autoethnography to explore my personal life journey across time, space and context, in order to identify and to analyse the significant moments of epiphany that impacted on my decision to become a teacher. The findings of this study reveal a number of universal qualities of good teachers across three continents who, independently and unbeknown to each other, acted as role models in shaping my identity and my desire to become a teacher in order to serve the communities in which I live. Today, I see myself as a lifelong learner, constantly adapting to change and using new technologies to empower my students with the best possible opportunities to self-regulate their learning and to achieve their short and long-term goals.

Autoethnographic narrative as a lens on life-long musician-teacher identity

“…As both author and subject, I use vignettes to drive research through critical self-reflection, documenting changes in values, perceptions, and assimilations that influence my growth as a musician-educator. The stories reflect meaningful experiences-"epiphanies"-that linger and remain (Denzin, 2014) that in turn can impact classroom practice (Bogiannidis et al, 2017;Burnard, 2012;Hogan, 2004;Measor, 1985;Rogers et al, 2018;Yacek & Gary, 2020). Such epiphanies are a form of selective recollection of events and the personal, confessional vulnerability of emotion that entwines each story (Van Maanen, 2011).…”

“…Memories are capricious things—they appear as they will. Yet memories can be prompted by cards, conversations, photos, concert programs, or musical instruments (Bogiannidis et al, 2017), opening “rivulets” to the past, that with reflexive thought become “rivers of musical experience” (Baker, 2005; Burnard, 2012; Chua, 2018). Several items were valuable here: my old recorder; my first solo performance music; a musical score; my concert dress; two Wayang Kulit .…”