Nurturing authenticity: a conversation with teachers

Abstract

In this qualitative research article, we present the stories of eight faculty members as they experience a change in teaching context from working in a traditional university environment to working together in a collaborative learning environment. We were interested in understanding whether a change in teaching context would affect them as teachers. We used interviews and observations to gather these stories. We present these stories as a conversation held over time. Four themes emerged from the data, each related to authentic teaching. The teachers experienced considerable growth and development, felt more true to themselves and their values, connected with each other, had more meaningful relationships with their students, and found an environment where they could talk about and reflect on their teaching.