Proceduralized Ideologies as a Lens for Analyzing Teacher Preparation Software

• In Event: Raising Critical Consciousness: Deconstructing Ideologies and Dismantling Programmatic Practices for Justice

Abstract

While some have turned to virtual platforms to address challenges in a rapidly changing teacher preparation landscape, numerous scholars have been calling for increased critical attention to the ideological underpinnings of these platforms. To this end, this paper analyzes how ideological constructions of teaching are designed into virtual teacher preparation software. We address this issue using interpretive, social semiotic analysis focused on a platform called SimSchool. Data sources included researcher-generated, videorecorded playthroughs, developer-published documentation, and developer-published YouTube videos about the platform’s intended use. Our findings highlight a teacher-centered, hierarchical, and highly metricized ideological construction of teaching demonstrated in the platform’s core functionality. We conclude that attention to such proceduralized ideologies can improve the design, adoption, and use of such software.

Authors

• Earl Aguilera, California State University - Fresno

• Mighty Chen, Mariposa County High School