Using a Computerized Classroom Simulation to Prepare Pre-Service Teachers

McPherson, Rebekah; Tyler-Wood, Tandra; McEnturff Ellison, Amber; Peak, Pamela

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Using a Computerized Classroom Simulation to Prepare Pre-Service Teachers

McPherson, R., Tyler-Wood, T., McEnturff Ellison, A. & Peak, P. (2011). Using a Computerized Classroom Simulation to Prepare Pre-Service Teachers. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 19(1), 93-110. Chesapeake, VA: SITE.
Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/31438.

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Journal Information

Journal of Technology and Teacher Education
ISSN 1059-7069
Volume 19, Issue 1, January 2011
Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education Chesapeake, VA

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Table of Contents

Authors

Rebekah McPherson, Tandra Tyler-Wood, Amber McEnturff Ellison, Pamela Peak, University of North Texas, United States

Abstract

This study at a large midwestern university evaluated the use of a web-based simulated classroom, simSchool, with pre-service and in-service special education students, to determine if use of the simulated classroom influences students’ perceptions of inclusion and teacher preparation. The project used a nonequivalent comparison group, quasi-experimental design. The Effective Inclusion Instrument and Teacher Preparation Survey were used to gather research data. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of simSchool in improving participants’ scores in teacher preparation and attitudes toward inclusion. Additionally, data were collected regarding the instructional delivery method of the simulation training, comparing face-to-face training sessions with watching online videos. Findings revealed that students who participated in the teaching simulation scored higher on the teacher preparation survey and valued simulations and computer games more.

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References

Allen, I., & Seaman, J. (2008). Staying the course: Online education in the United States. Needham, Ma: The sloan consortium.
Baines, L. A. (2006). Deconstructing teacher certification. Phi Delta Kappan, 88, 326-328.
Baker, J. M., & Zigmond, N. (1995). The meaning and practice of inclusion for students with learning disabilities: themes and implications from the five cases. The Journal of Special Education, 29(2), 163-180.
Banks, J. A. (1991). Teaching strategies for ethnic studies. Boston, Ma: allyn and bacon.
Banks, J. A. (2007). Multicultural education: characteristics and goals. In J. Banks & C. A. M. Banks. (eds.), Multicultural education: Issues and perspectives (pp. 3-30). New york: Wiley.
Borg, W.R. & Gall, M.D. (1989). Educational research: An introduction (5th ed.). White Plains, ny: longman.
Center on Personnel studies in special education. (2004, february). An insufficient supply and a growing demand for qualified special education personnel. Retrieved october 12, 2008 from http://education.ufl.edu/copsse/research-spotlight/index.php#tpq
Cheong, D., & Kim, B. (2009). A simulation for improving teachers’ motivational skills. In D. Gibson & Y. Baek (eds.), Digital simulations for improving education: Learning through artificial teaching environments. Hershey, Pa: IGI Global.
Cornbleth, C. (2008). Diversity and the new teacher: Learning from experience in urban schools. New york, ny: Teachers college Press.
Darling-hammond, L. (2006). Powerful teacher education: Lessons from exemplary programs. San francisco: Jossey bass.
DeVellis, R. (1991). Scale development. NewburyPark, nJ: sage Publications. Ferry, B., & Kervin, L. (2007). Developing an online classroom simulation to support a pre-service teacher education program. In D. Gibson, C. Aldrich, & M. Prenksy (eds.), Games and simulations in online learning: Research & Development frameworks. Hershey, Pa: Idea Group.
Fowler, S. M., & Pusch, M. D. (2010). Intercultural simulation games: a review (of the united states and beyond). Simulation Gaming, 41(1), 94-115.
Gibson, D. (2006). Simschool and the conceptual assessment framework. In D. Gibson, C. Aldrich, & M. Prensky (eds.), Games and simulations in online learning: Research & Development frameworks. Hershey, Pa: Idea Group.
Gibson, D. (2007). SimSchool – A complex systems framework for modeling teaching & Learning. Paper presented to the national educational computing conference, atlanta, Ga, June 2007.
Gibson, D. (2008). Modeling classroom cognition and teaching behaviors with coVe. In D. Gibson & Y. Baek (eds.), Digital simulations for improving education. Hershey, Pa: IGI Global.
Girod, M., & Girod, G. (2006). Exploring the efficacy of the cook school district simulation. Journal of Teacher Education, 57(5), 481-497.
Girod, M., & Girod, G. (2008). Simulation and the need for practice in teacher preparation. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education,16(3), 307-337. Hammond, H., & Ingalls, L. (2003). Teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion: survey results from elementary school teachers in three southwestern rural school districts. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 22(2), 24-30.
Hsien, M. L. (2007). Teacher attitudes towards preparation for inclusion - in support of a unified teacher preparation program. Post-Script: Postgraduate Journal of Education Research, 8(1), 49-60.
Individuals with disabilities education act of 2004, 20 U.S.C., 401 et seq. (2004).
Knezek, G. & Christensen, R. (2006). Teacher Survey Battery. Denton, TX: Institute for the Integration of Technology into Teaching & Learning (IITTl).
Ladson-billings, G. (2005). Is the team all right? diversity and teacher education. Journal of Teacher Education 56(3). 229-234.
Mccrae, R., & Costa, P. (1996). Toward a generation of personality theories: Theoretical contexts for the five-factor model. In J.S. Wiggins (ed.), The five-factor model of personality: Theoretical perspectives (pp. 51-87). New york: Guilford.
Meyer, K. A. (2002). Quality in distance education: focus on on-line learning. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report Series, 29(4).
Nieto, S. (2000). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural education (3rd ed.). England: longman.
Reckien, D., & Eisenack, K. (2010). Urban sprawl: using a game to sensitize stakeholders to the interdependencies among actors’ preferences. Simulation Gaming, 41(2), 260-277.
Sleeter, C. E. (2001). Preparing teachers for culturally diverse schools: Research and the overwhelming presence of whiteness. Journal of Teacher Education, 52(2), 94-106.
Smith, R. (2010). The long history of gaming in military training. Simulation Gaming, 41(1), 6-19.
Smith, T. E. C., Polloway, E. A., Patton, J. R., & Dowdy, C. A. (1995). Teaching students with special needs in inclusive settings. Needham heights, Ma: allyn & Bacon.
Zeichner, K.M. (1993). Educating teachers for cultural diversity. East lansing, MI: national center for Research on Teacher learning.
Zibit, M. & Gibson, D. (2005). “simschool: The game of teaching.” Innovate 1(6).
Zyda, M. (2005, september). From visual simulation to virtual reality to games. Computer Magazine, 25-32.

These references have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. If you see a mistake in the references above, please contact info@editlib.org.

[1] Allen, I., & Seaman, J. (2008). Staying the course: Online education in the United States. Needham, Ma: The sloan consortium.

[2] Baines, L. A. (2006). Deconstructing teacher certification. Phi Delta Kappan, 88, 326-328.

[3] Baker, J. M., & Zigmond, N. (1995). The meaning and practice of inclusion for students with learning disabilities: themes and implications from the five cases. The Journal of Special Education, 29(2), 163-180.

[4] Banks, J. A. (1991). Teaching strategies for ethnic studies. Boston, Ma: allyn and bacon.

[5] Banks, J. A. (2007). Multicultural education: characteristics and goals. In J. Banks & C. A. M. Banks. (eds.), Multicultural education: Issues and perspectives (pp. 3-30). New york: Wiley.

[6] Borg, W.R. & Gall, M.D. (1989). Educational research: An introduction (5th ed.). White Plains, ny: longman.

[7] Center on Personnel studies in special education. (2004, february). An insufficient supply and a growing demand for qualified special education personnel. Retrieved october 12, 2008 from http://education.ufl.edu/copsse/research-spotlight/index.php#tpq

[8] Cheong, D., & Kim, B. (2009). A simulation for improving teachers’ motivational skills. In D. Gibson & Y. Baek (eds.), Digital simulations for improving education: Learning through artificial teaching environments. Hershey, Pa: IGI Global.

[9] Cornbleth, C. (2008). Diversity and the new teacher: Learning from experience in urban schools. New york, ny: Teachers college Press.

[10] Darling-hammond, L. (2006). Powerful teacher education: Lessons from exemplary programs. San francisco: Jossey bass.

[11] DeVellis, R. (1991). Scale development. NewburyPark, nJ: sage Publications. Ferry, B., & Kervin, L. (2007). Developing an online classroom simulation to support a pre-service teacher education program. In D. Gibson, C. Aldrich, & M. Prenksy (eds.), Games and simulations in online learning: Research & Development frameworks. Hershey, Pa: Idea Group.

[12] Fowler, S. M., & Pusch, M. D. (2010). Intercultural simulation games: a review (of the united states and beyond). Simulation Gaming, 41(1), 94-115.

[13] Gibson, D. (2006). Simschool and the conceptual assessment framework. In D. Gibson, C. Aldrich, & M. Prensky (eds.), Games and simulations in online learning: Research & Development frameworks. Hershey, Pa: Idea Group.

[14] Gibson, D. (2007). SimSchool – A complex systems framework for modeling teaching & Learning. Paper presented to the national educational computing conference, atlanta, Ga, June 2007.

[15] Gibson, D. (2008). Modeling classroom cognition and teaching behaviors with coVe. In D. Gibson & Y. Baek (eds.), Digital simulations for improving education. Hershey, Pa: IGI Global.

[16] Girod, M., & Girod, G. (2006). Exploring the efficacy of the cook school district simulation. Journal of Teacher Education, 57(5), 481-497.

[17] Girod, M., & Girod, G. (2008). Simulation and the need for practice in teacher preparation. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education,16(3), 307-337. Hammond, H., & Ingalls, L. (2003). Teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion: survey results from elementary school teachers in three southwestern rural school districts. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 22(2), 24-30.

[18] Hsien, M. L. (2007). Teacher attitudes towards preparation for inclusion - in support of a unified teacher preparation program. Post-Script: Postgraduate Journal of Education Research, 8(1), 49-60.

[19] Individuals with disabilities education act of 2004, 20 U.S.C., 401 et seq. (2004).

[20] Knezek, G. & Christensen, R. (2006). Teacher Survey Battery. Denton, TX: Institute for the Integration of Technology into Teaching & Learning (IITTl).

[21] Ladson-billings, G. (2005). Is the team all right? diversity and teacher education. Journal of Teacher Education 56(3). 229-234.

[22] Mccrae, R., & Costa, P. (1996). Toward a generation of personality theories: Theoretical contexts for the five-factor model. In J.S. Wiggins (ed.), The five-factor model of personality: Theoretical perspectives (pp. 51-87). New york: Guilford.

[23] Meyer, K. A. (2002). Quality in distance education: focus on on-line learning. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report Series, 29(4).

[24] Nieto, S. (2000). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural education (3rd ed.). England: longman.

[25] Reckien, D., & Eisenack, K. (2010). Urban sprawl: using a game to sensitize stakeholders to the interdependencies among actors’ preferences. Simulation Gaming, 41(2), 260-277.

[26] Sleeter, C. E. (2001). Preparing teachers for culturally diverse schools: Research and the overwhelming presence of whiteness. Journal of Teacher Education, 52(2), 94-106.

[27] Smith, R. (2010). The long history of gaming in military training. Simulation Gaming, 41(1), 6-19.

[28] Smith, T. E. C., Polloway, E. A., Patton, J. R., & Dowdy, C. A. (1995). Teaching students with special needs in inclusive settings. Needham heights, Ma: allyn & Bacon.

[29] Zeichner, K.M. (1993). Educating teachers for cultural diversity. East lansing, MI: national center for Research on Teacher learning.

[30] Zibit, M. & Gibson, D. (2005). “simschool: The game of teaching.” Innovate 1(6).

[31] Zyda, M. (2005, september). From visual simulation to virtual reality to games. Computer Magazine, 25-32.

Using a Computerized Classroom Simulation to Prepare Pre-Service Teachers

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