Changing directions through VirtualPREX: engaging pre-service teachers in virtual professional experience

Title
Changing directions through VirtualPREX: engaging pre-service teachers in virtual professional experience
Publication Date
2011
Author(s)
Gregory, Sue
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0417-8266
Email: sgregor4@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:sgregor4
Dalgarno, Barney
Campbell, Matthew
Reiners, Torsten
Knox, Vicki
Masters, Yvonne
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1120-7950
Email: ymasters@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:ymasters
Editor
Editor(s): G Williams, P Statham, N Brown & B Cleland
Type of document
Conference Publication
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
University of Tasmania
Place of publication
Hobart, Australia
UNE publication id
une:9517
Abstract
Many pre-service teachers currently undertake their professional experience with insufficient knowledge and confidence to handle unexpected teaching situations. VirtualPREX explores the experiences of 72 pre-service teachers who undertook a teaching role-play in a virtual world. The researchers discuss this opportunity for pre-service teachers to utilise new methods and avenues in a virtual world to both supplement their learning and undertake preparation for practical experience. Participation by pre-service teachers in role-play enables them to test and develop a better range of professional skills and acquire confidence in, and more realistic awareness of, their skills before being placed in real-life classrooms. Presented in this paper are the findings from a pilot of this study and pre-service teacher reactions to the role-play activity including whether they felt that it was helpful in preparing them for their upcoming professional experience placement.
Link
Citation
Changing Demands, Changing Directions: Proceedings ascilite Hobart 2011, p. 491-501
ISBN
9781862956445
Start page
491
End page
501

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