Picture This: Multimodal representations of prospective teachers' metaphors about teachers and teaching

Abstract

Metaphors are often used to help prospective teachers' articulate ideas and knowledge about teachers and teaching. This article reports the results of a study focused on a multimodal project completed by prospective teachers (N = 52) for the express purpose of identifying, capturing, displaying, and articulating their metaphorical definition(s) of teachers and teaching. Findings suggest that multimodality offered varied and nuanced ways for participants to represent and share metaphors. Findings also suggest that offering prospective teachers with opportunities to consider and articulate metaphorical ideas through multimodal means may further contribute to their development as they learn to teach.