Place as Teacher: Community-Based Experiences, Third Spaces, & Teacher Education

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the systematic collective reflections of four teacher educators as they interrogate their own practice engaging in community-based settings, specifically considering how these settings can serve as an additional teacher. It is informed by a theory that centers educational experiences within the community and is guided by Gutiérrez’s use of the concept of third space. Connected to third spaces, the results of this study reveal that traditional PK-12 settings serve as the first spaces, the university teacher education programs as the second spaces, and the community-based settings as third spaces. Results showcase how these third spaces can be transformative for teacher educators as they consider preservice teachers’ learning. Findings are drawn from a 2-year collective self-study of four teacher educators facilitating community-based field experiences in the United States and Canada. Analysis of the teacher educator reflections of their observations revealed the transformative ways in which these community-based places, as separate and unique constructs, acted as a teacher for preservice teachers when working in community-based settings. This study presents arguments for integrating community-based field experiences within teacher education, particularly as such places can support and facilitate preservice teachers’ learning.