Living in Stories Through Images and Metaphors: Recognizing Unity in Diversity

Authors

  • Shi Jing Xu OISE / University of Toronto
  • Dianne E. Stevens OISE / University of Toronto

Keywords:

storytelling, teaching practice, teacher knowledge

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Who are we as teachers and what constitutes a desirable educational experience? Two teachers, one Chinese and the other a white Canadian, tell “a single story [of teaching], integrated by our sense of ourselves᾿ (Crites, 1971, p. 303). Our storytelling is enabled by metaphors and images that serve as tools for reflecting on our actions in life and our teaching practice, and as a catalyst for understanding our teacher knowledge (Connelly & Clandinin, 1988; Hunt, 1987). VIVRE DANS DES HISTOIRES PAR LE BIAIS D’IMAGES ET DES MÉTAPHORES : RECONNAÎTRE L’UNITÉ DANS LA DIVERSITÉ RÉSUMÉ. Qui sommes-nous en tant qu’enseignants et qu’est-ce qu’une expérience éducative désirable? Deux enseignantes, une chinoise et l’autre une canadienne blanche, racontent “une simple histoire d’enseignement, intégré dans notre perception de nous même᾿ ( Crites, 1971, p.303). Notre récit d’histoire est rendue possible avec des métaphores et des images qui nous servent d’outils dans nos actions dans la vie et dans nos enseignements pratiques, et sont un catalyseur pour comprendre nos connaissances d’enseignant. ( Connelly et Clandinin 1988, Hunt, 1987).

Author Biographies

Shi Jing Xu, OISE / University of Toronto

SHI JING XU is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, OISE/University of Toronto. She was an Associate Professor of English as a Foreign Language at a university in Beijing before studying in Canada. Her research interests center on narrative approaches to inter-generational education issues and school-family-community connections for cross-cultural curriculum studies and teacher education. Her current research is on the reciprocal adaptation of newcomers and Canadian society for the communication of values in education.

Dianne E. Stevens, OISE / University of Toronto

DIANNE E. STEVENS is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, OISE/University of Toronto. Her research interest centers on holistic approaches to education, particularly in teacher development and student engagement in learning. Her understanding of the learning process comes from teaching students in both secondary and elementary schools. Her current research is meaningful professional development from the perspectives of teachers.

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How to Cite

Xu, S. J., & Stevens, D. E. (2006). Living in Stories Through Images and Metaphors: Recognizing Unity in Diversity. McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De l’éducation De McGill, 40(2). Retrieved from https://mje.mcgill.ca/article/view/570

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 2 (2005)

Section

Articles

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