How Can the Use of Virtual Reality in Professional Development Increase Teacher Empathy?

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 11:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Advancing In-Service Professional Development for Teacher Socio-emotional Competencies

Abstract

Indigenous students experience personal and institutional racism in education, embedded in teacher beliefs and behaviours. Current approaches to anti-bias professional development (PD) for teachers typically entail passive learning with limited efficacy. Emerging research suggests that virtual reality (VR) is potentially a powerful anti-bias tool for increasing empathy. In New Zealand, the context for this study, bias is pervasive against the Indigenous Māori community. This project implemented and evaluated an anti-bias teacher PD program that includes an innovative VR experience in which teachers ‘embody’ a male Māori middle school student facing bias at multiple points in the day, both within and outside of school. Preliminary findings have implications for PD using VR in other contexts, including the United States.

Authors

• Joanna R. Smith, University of Auckland

• Frauke Meyer, The University of Auckland

• Christine Margaret Rubie-Davies, University of Auckland

• Georgia Rudd, The University of Auckland

• Hana O'Regan, Tawhiri Consulting

• Pam O'Connell, CORE Education

• Roseanna Baker, University of Auckland

• Melina Amos, Auckland University