An Exploration of Professional Identity and Personal Educational Philosophy of Student Teachers at Farhangian University of Kerman

Professional identity is a kind of social identity which is formed in relation to others, practical learning and training, and professional experiences. Personal educational philosophy is a theoretical basis that encompasses all educational and training activities of student teachers from the beginning of their studies at the university and possibly before entering the university and forms their professional future and identity. Although student teachers may or may not be aware of this hidden and influential fact, such established personal educational philosophy has an impact on their future career. Therefore, the personal educational philosophy of the student teachers and the way they view the teaching profession constitute their professional identity. This study attempted to investigate the professional identity of student teachers with accordance to their personal educational philosophy using narrative research approach through the exploration of their lived experiences, inner circumstances and philosophy of life. In this regard, the autobiographies of seventeen student teachers of Farhangian University of Kerman on certain aspects of their personal educational philosophy have been investigated. The findings of this study indicated the influence of the following four factors and their interaction on the formation of professional identity of student teachers: a) the type of one's view of his/her own professional identity, b) the type of one's view of his/her professional identity based on the performance of others, c) the type of others' view of one's professional identity, and d) the type of one's philosophical view of his/her life and profession.