The use of embedded tools and support materials within a classroom simulation to support quality teaching

Abstract This paper focuses on the use of embedded tools and support materials within a web-basedsimulated classroom environment. The developed simulation prototype allows the user to adopt therole of a Kindergarten teacher where they have to “teach” a typical literacy episode that we havecalled “days of the week”. During this episode the user is asked to make decisions about theorganisation of the classroom, management of the classroom, and the teaching and learningexperiences to be offered.A key component of this on-line simulation is the incorporation of an embedded tool, referred to asa thinking space, at decisive points. Support materials have also been incorporated throughout thesimulation to encourage the user to look at the theory and wider knowledge base around the issuesthey encounter. These components of the simulation have been developed to encourage users tothink more deeply about their role as a classroom teacher. As users make decisions throughout therunning time of the simulated classroom episode, they are supported with embedded thinkingspaces and regular student updates organised according to the NSW pedagogy model (DET, 2003).We report on the data that we have collected about use of the embedded tools and support materialsby a cohort of pre-service teachers.

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