Virtual Simulation as a Space for Developing Professional Practice in Teacher Preparation

• In Event: Roundtable Session 18
  In Roundtable Session: Diverse Approaches and Perspectives for Preparing the Next Generation of Teachers

Abstract

Effective and efficient teacher preparation is vital to ensure that teachers are well prepared to work with students upon graduation. These issues are of particular importance in today’s schools, given the pressure on schools and districts to meet ever-increasing expectations on standardized tests. The study described here explores the possibilities of using virtual simulations of practice in a reading specialist teacher preparation program. Our analysis of the data demonstrates not only that these simulations can be a powerful way to both prepare and assess early career teachers’ pedagogical approaches, but also that the teacher candidates found these simulations to be a powerful and useful tool in helping them develop a sense of personal professional teaching practice.

Authors

• Katharine Emily Bartow Jacobs, University of Pittsburgh

• Michelle J Sobolak, University of Pittsburgh

• Lindsay Clare Matsumura, University of Pittsburgh