If the jacket fits: A metaphor for teacher professional learning and development

Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to assist lead teachers to define, analyse, and refine their relationship with professional learning and development through the metaphor of a jacket. Metaphor analysis was used to study 18 lead teachers' from six New Zealand schools co-constructed written metaphors. One major finding was the significant number of metaphors that conceptualised a disadvantageous relationship between teachers and their professional learning and development. An implication of that finding is the need to make explicit and address possible negative dispositions teachers may hold toward their professional learning and development.