Virtual Rehearsal Simulations-Comparison of Elementary Teacher Candidates' Elicitation of Student Thinking

• In Event: Embracing Discomfort for Professional Growth: Learning From STEM and Elementary Teacher Experiences

Abstract

Rehearsals have been designed within mathematics education to engage teacher candidates in deliberate practice of specific teaching episodes before enacting within classroom settings. Innovative technologies such as virtual simulation software—Mursion® (developed as TeachLivE™)—offer opportunities to use student-avatars in this context. This work explores rehearsals within virtual simulations as compared to traditional rehearsals by using (non-pooled) two-sample, t-tests to compare changes regarding use of eliciting strategies. Similarity of the groups in how they develop eliciting strategies presents evidence that virtual simulations have the potential to provide comparable contexts for rehearsals. At the same time, the specific differences between groups prompts further examination of patterns in discussion to better understand what is influencing differential change.

Authors

• Carrie W. Lee, East Carolina University

• Jennifer Lynn Gallagher, East Carolina University

• Daniel L. Dickerson, East Carolina University

• Paul Vos, East Carolina University

• Tammy Lee, East Carolina University

• Mark Newton, East Carolina University