Novice teachers in a changing reality

ABSTRACT

The aims of this paper are to explore novice teachers’ experiences in the Covid-19 crisis, and to examine their professional identity construction process. During the global crisis, novice teachers had to deal with unexpected challenges and take advantage of new opportunities. This study is based on 32 narratives of novice teachers in Israel who took part in a one semester online Zoom induction in two workshops. The open conversations narratives in the meetings were recorded and transcribed, and then subjected to categorical content analysis. The findings show the challenges and opportunities related to three central categories: technological, pedagogical and educational system in the novice teachers’ experiences. The main contributions of this study are: understanding the novice teachers’ experiences in the uncertainty and turmoil of the crisis, and learning about professional dilemmas and tensions which gave rise to various challenges and opportunities that that supported the construction their professional identity.

KEYWORDS:

• Covid-19 crisis
• novice teachers
• professional identity
• technological teaching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nurit Dvir

Dr. Nurit Dvir holds a PhD in Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A senior lecturer in the Kibbutzim College of Education, Tel Aviv, As well as teaching and mentoring teacher educators' professional development in Moffet- Academic Institute. Using narrative research, her articles focus on constructing professional identity in teacher education: pre-service students; novice teachers and teacher educators.

Orna Schatz-Oppenheimer

Prof. Dr. Orna Schatz Oppenheimer holds a Ph.D in Educational Psychology - Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Lecturer in the Education Department in the Hebrew University, as well as teaching in M.eD  David Yellin Academic College. Engaged in qualitative - narrative research in professional identities, writing stories of beginning teachers. Published books and articles.