Opportunities and Challenges Associated With Approximations of Practice in Teacher Education Programs

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Approximations of practice create valuable opportunities for preservice teachers (PSTs) to develop their teaching skills by engaging them in aspects of teaching (e.g., teacher noticing, classroom discussions). Since approximations of practice do not reflect the full scope of social and cultural complexities of school settings, the extent to which approximated practices preserve these complexities is underexplored. In this symposium, we provide presentations and engage conference participants in discussions related to the opportunities and challenges associated with several forms of approximations of practices, including virtual simulations and rehearsals of teaching. Particularly, the panelists and discussant will share their research on PSTs’ learning through approximations and generate discussion on challenges of retaining social and cultural complexities of mathematics classrooms through such approximations.

Sub Unit

• Division K - Teaching and Teacher Education / Division K - Section 05: Pre-service Teacher Education Coursework: Curriculum and Pedagogy to Improve Teacher Knowledge and Instruction

Chair

• Bima Kumari Sapkota, Purdue University

Papers

• Gaining Confidence, Knowledge, and Skills Through Virtual Rehearsals - Liza Bondurant

• Is the Medium the Message? Video-Recording and Writing for Approximations of Practice - Yvonne Lai, University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Alyson E. Lischka, Middle Tennessee State University; Jeremy Strayer, Middle Tennessee State University

• Leveraging Teaching Simulations to Learn about Preservice Teachers' Diagnostic Skills - Meghan M. Shaughnessy, Boston University; Timothy A. Boerst, University of Michigan; Kristen Pynes, University of Michigan

• Traditional Rehearsals Versus Virtual Rehearsal Simulations - Carrie W. Lee, East Carolina University

• Exploring the Role of Standardization in Approximations of Teaching Practice - Heather Howell, ETS; Jamie N. Mikeska, Educational Testing Service

Discussant

• Hala N. Ghousseini, University of Wisconsin - Madison