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Home >  Reflective Teaching in Higher Education, 2nd Ed > 1. Becoming a reflective professional > 1. Identity > To use metaphor as a method for developing insight into your understanding of your identity and work as a university teacher


  1. 1. Becoming a reflective professional
        1. Identity
        2. Learning
  2.     3. Reflection
  3.     4. Principles

  4. 2. Creating conditions for learning
        5. Contexts
        6. Relationships
        7. Engagement
  5.     8. Spaces

  7. 3. Teaching for learning
  8.     9. Curriculum
        10. Planning
  9.     11. Pedagogy
  10.     12. Communication
  11.     13. Assessment

  13. 4. Reflecting on consequences
        14. Outcomes
        15. Inclusion

  14. 5. Deepening understanding
        16. Expertise
        17. Professionalism

To use metaphor as a method for developing insight into your understanding of your identity and work as a university teacher


Aim

To use metaphor as a method for developing insight into your understanding of your identity and work as a university teacher. 


The most established metaphors to describe teachers’ work foreground the art, science and craft of teaching. Listed below are some additional metaphors that people have used to describe the work of teachers.

  • Architect
  • Conductor
  • Gardener
  • Engineer
  • Director

Choose a couple of the metaphors discussed above and explore their strengths and limitations. For example, a conductor coordinates diverse contributions to create a symphony, but follows a score. A gardener nurtures and tends, but weeds …

Look over your lists. What does it reveal about how you understand the nature of teaching?

The issues raised could be discussed and analysed with colleagues. It might be helpful to try to identify aspects which are core to the role of teachers, and those which are more supplementary.