“I Saw the World Around Us Changing… and I Wanted More”

Examining the Figured Worlds of Experienced Teachers Seeking to Transform

Authors

  • Sarah Bonner University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Robyn Seglem Colorado Springs School of Technology
  • Anna Smith Illinois State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2026.581

Keywords:

design-based research, figured worlds, transformative teaching, teacher identity, middle level education, secondary education

Abstract

Transforming teaching practices can be regarded as a complex process Using Holland et al.'s (1998) figured world concepts of cultural artifacts, discourse, and identity, this article explores the journey of five experienced teachers as they seek to shift their classroom practices from traditional methods to inquiry-based teaching. Findings from this study discuss what happens when experienced teachers let go of traditional teaching expectations and reimagine new teacher identities. This article concludes with implications about the versatility of identity theories to both study and facilitate teacher transformation and its impact on teacher professional development.

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Published

2026-07-29

How to Cite

Bonner, S., Seglem, R., & Smith, A. (2026). “I Saw the World Around Us Changing… and I Wanted More”: Examining the Figured Worlds of Experienced Teachers Seeking to Transform . Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice, 11(3), 60–66. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2026.581

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2026): Regular Issue

Section

Research Articles from Dissertations in Practice

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Copyright (c) 2026 Sarah Bonner, Robyn Seglem, Anna Smith

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