Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Impacts of Teaching Virtual Students

simSchool22.10.2013

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

simSchool

A ‘flight simulator’ for teaching

Uses a computational model of teaching and learning

Supports practice & reflection re: teaching challenges

* Classroom management

* Instructional activity design

* Psychology of learning

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

simSchool’s ‘Interactive Engine’

Independent Variables

Dependent Variables

Observable Variables

Hidden Variables

What context teachers see

How students react

What teachers do

student outcomes

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

(Hidden Variables)

3-Aspect simStudent Personality

Openness to learning

Conscientiousness

Extroversion or introversion

Agreeableness

Neuroticism - emotional stability

Visual

Auditory

Kinesthetic

Expected academic performance

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

(Hidden Variables)

Interpersonal Circumplex

Teachers and students interact with one another by negotiating power and affiliation

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

(Observable Variables)

Dynamically Generated Profiles

A text database of personality elements allows 5 statements per element

This produces 5 ^ 10 or 9.7 million written profiles

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

(Observable Variables)

Student Behavior

Body posture offers clues

Verbal responses reflect student’s internal state

“I am tryinghard to

complete my work”

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

(Independent Variables)

What Teachers Do

Select Tasks Emotional, Physical & Cognitive current states of students interact with task requirementsA Zone of Proximal Development determines time-to-success on task and effects student attitudes

Talk to simStudentsQuestions, observations, or assertions about academic or, behavioral issues

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

simSchool Theories

Zone of Proximal Development

OCEAN model of psychology

Physical model of sensation-perception

Social Expectation States Theory concerning tasks

Complex Systems

System dynamics

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Zone of Proximal Development

TASK Requirements

ZPD of the STUDENT

Time on Task

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

V A K O C E A N n…

Dynamics of Task Completion

SallyTask

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Dynamic LandscapesTask

Student

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Impacts across studies since 2006

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Impacts across studies since 2006 show increases in:

Instructional Self-Efficacy (confidence in one’s competence),

Learner Locus of Control (the teacher’s sense of responsibility for learning results)

Teaching Skills (self-estimates) (Knezek, Fisser, Gibson, Christensen, & Tyler-Wood, 2012)

Pedagogical Balance (confidence viz experience)

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Impacts in 2007

Instructional Self-Efficacy gains were significant and roughly twice as large as gains in the comparison group

Learning Locus of Control movement was noted in the direction of stronger belief that the teacher can influence a student’s achievement potential.

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Impacts in 2008

Significant gains (p < .001) in Instructional Self-Efficacy, with an effect size of .44

Significant gains from pre- to post-assessment in the Teaching Skills subscale (p < .001), with an effect size of .44

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Impacts in 2011

Gains in Instructional Self-Efficacy (p < .01, one-tailed hypothesis),

Learning Locus of Control (p < .01, one-tailed)

Teaching Skills (p < .03, one-tailed)

…were sufficiently large (p < .05) to reject the null hypothesis of occurrence by chance.

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Conclusions

Findings reported to date illustrate that simulations are capable of modeling a wide range of student learning, and can be envisioned as having significant impacts on improvements in teaching.

The findings of different gains in treatment versus comparison group indicators can be interpreted as evidence that the instruments work and that the simulator is useful. Further research is needed to verify long-term impacts of simSchool on teacher quality and K-12 student learning.

Curtin University is a trademark of Curtin University of TechnologyCRICOS Provider Code 00301J

Impacts of Teaching Virtual Students

simSchool22.10.2013