Investigation of Teachers' Cognitive Constructs of the Ideal Student in the Context of the Maarif Model Student Profile

This study aims to examine teachers' cognitive constructs of the ideal student in the context of the TCEM Student Profile. In line with this purpose, the study was conducted with the phenomenology design from qualitative research. The participants in the study consisted of 24 teachers with at least five years of teaching experience working in MoNE secondary schools in Erzurum and Kahramanmaraş provinces and teaching within the scope of TCEM. Teachers' cognitive construct data on the ideal student were collected with the Repertory Grid Form (RGF), analyzed with the descriptive analysis technique, and presented in tables and graphs. The research findings reveal that teachers' cognitive constructs of the ideal student are generally shaped within a value-based framework; as emphasized in the TCEM Student Profile, a student model that prioritizes individual responsibility and is equipped with ethical values that will contribute to social life. In addition, the study revealed that teachers shaped the definition of the ideal student not only through cognitive competencies but also through a multifaceted personality structure. When the qualities put forward by the teachers were evaluated in terms of frequency and importance scores, it was concluded that the themes of “Moral”, “Willful” and “Productive” were represented more intensely than the other themes. In addition, it is seen that the concepts of moral consistency, internal control and productive participation are at the forefront in teachers' mental representations of the ideal student, while the other qualities serve the integrity of this triad with a supportive function.