Prospective Computer Teachers' Mental Images about the Concepts of "School" and "Computer Teacher"

In this phenomenological study, prospective computer teachers' mental images related to the concepts of "school" and "computer teacher" were examined through metaphors. Participants were all the 45 seniors majoring in the Department of Computer and Instructional Technologies at Selcuk University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Faculty of Education during the 2009-2010 academic year. They were asked to produce one metaphor for their either experienced or ideal "school" image and one metaphor for their either experienced or ideal "computer teacher" image. Collected data were analyzed by using the "content analysis" technique. According to the findings, participants produced 33 valid metaphors about the "school". While 16 of these metaphors reflected their past schooling experiences, 17 of them reflected their ideal schools. Based on their common characteristics, all the 33 metaphors were grouped into 9 categories (a disciplinary center, a shaping place, a work center, an outdated place, a place of enlightenment, a place of hope, a place of growth, a place of solidarity and a fun place). In the same way, participants produced a total of 21 valid metaphors about the "computer teacher". While 10 of these metaphors reflected their past computer teachers, 11 of them represented their ideal computer teachers. Based on their common characteristics, all the 21 metaphors were grouped into 6 categories (superior authority figure, shaper, information provider, curer, guide and democratic leader). It appears that while participants produced only teaching-focused metaphors to reflect their school experiences and computer teachers, they developed both teaching-and learning-focused metaphors to reflect their ideal schools and computer teachers.