Creating Mixed-Reality Avatar Simulations to Prepare Teacher Candidates for Equity-Focused Instruction

• In Event: Technology's Role in Culturally Responsive Instruction and Antiracism

Abstract

This paper examines the process of creating mixed reality simulations to support teacher candidates as they enact instructional practices while attending to linguistic diversity, including language variation and multilingualism. This study addresses the need for more research on simulation scenario design and on preparing TCs for linguistically diverse students, asking: How does one design avatar simulation scenarios that provide opportunities for TCs to notice and incorporate students’ linguistic diversity in asset-based, equity-focused ways? Conducted as a design experiment by co-investigators -- a teacher educator and an avatar simulation specialist, this paper details the co-creation of two simulation scenarios in the subject-area of emergent literacy with specific learning goals centered on equity-focused approaches to linguistic diversity.

Authors

• Pamela J. Hickey, Towson University

• Matthew A. Iannone, Towson University