Understanding pre-service teachers' experiences of a mixed reality simulation environment: An analysis of pre-service teachers' perspectives on communicating with a simulated parent avatar

Rappa, N.ORCID: 0000-0002-3217-0296 (2019) Understanding pre-service teachers' experiences of a mixed reality simulation environment: An analysis of pre-service teachers' perspectives on communicating with a simulated parent avatar. In: Personalised Learning. Diverse Goals. One Heart. ASCILITE 2019 Singapore, 2-5 December 2019, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) pp. 531-535.

Abstract

The integration of simulation platforms in the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs enables pre-service teachers (PSTs) to experience a range of teaching scenarios that they might not otherwise encounter in real-world practicum contexts. Understanding PSTs’ perspectives of their experiences of these new learning spaces is critical in determining the role played by simulation platforms in the preparation for placements, their specific affordances for learning and how these platforms can be effectively integrated to support PSTs’ practices. This paper reports on a pilot study of PSTs’ participation in a simulated parent conference session with a parent avatar in SIMLab™, a mixed reality simulation environment. SIMLab™ allows the facilitation of synchronous responses by a human interactor playing a virtual reality avatar to enhance the authenticity of the experience for PSTs. Based on data drawn from a cross-sectional survey design, the paper provides an analysis of PSTs’ perspectives on six possible affordances of SIMLab™ and describes emergent themes gleaned from PSTs’ comments on their learning experiences within and in relation to SIMLab™. The findings inform the design and implementation of the simulation experience in ITE programs.

Item Type:	Conference Paper
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Education
Conference Website:	https://2019conference.ascilite.org/
United Nations SDGs:	Goal 4: Quality Education
Notes:	36th International Conference On Innovation, Practice and Research in the Use Of Educational Technologies in Tertiary Education ASCILITE (Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education)
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/54938

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