Innovative Pathways to Teaching: High School Teacher Clubs and Simulation-Based Learning

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 5:10 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Enhancing Teacher Preparation: Validating Inquiry-Based Practices, Critical Assessment, and Evolving Perceptions in Education (Table 8)

Abstract

This paper describes an exploratory project using digital simulations with high school students in teacher clubs to explore their impact on teens’ understanding of the teaching profession. We found that sims effectively engaged teens considering a teaching career, presented authentic teaching challenges, and enabled them to derive meaningful insights about teaching. These findings suggest starting points for teacher education programs to collaborate with school districts to create learning environments to attract a new generation to teaching.

Authors

• Elizabeth Azukas, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

• Sara L. Dexter, University of Virginia

• David C. Gibson, Curtin University

• Alison Newman, Delaware Valley School District