@inproceedings{e308a8535fe84ef4bf9473853a59dcb7,
title = "Changing directions through VirtualPREX: Engaging pre-service teachers in virtual professional experience",
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.",
keywords = "Pre-service teachers, Professional experience, Second Life, Virtual worlds",
author = "Sue Gregory and Barney Dalgarno and Matthew Campbell and Torsten Reiners and Vicki Knox and Yvonne Masters",
year = "2011",
language = "English",
isbn = "9781862956445",
series = "ASCILITE 2011 - The Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education",
publisher = "Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education",
pages = "491--501",
editor = "Gary Williams and Dominique Parish",
booktitle = "Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education, ASCILITE 2011",
note = "Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education - {"}Changing demands, changing directions{"}, ASCILITE 2011 ; Conference date: 04-12-2011 Through 07-12-2011",
}