The many faces of identity: Is identity a relevant construct for understanding and enhancing learning?

This presentation will first briefly examine the philosophical nature of identity. Second, I will consider some everyday uses of the construct of identity, and the inherent complexity of referring to what is meant by ‘identity’. Third, I will briefly introduce a discussion of identity from a psychological perspective including a range of theoretical perspectives, and follow this with a discussion of the many faces of identity and education. Finally, I will consider the deconstruction of the construct of identity into more observable, measureable and malleable components that educators, parents, and significant others may work with to enhance the identity of children as learners. Copyright © 2014 The International Academic Forum.