Imagine a preparatory teacher classroom where a beginning teacher
could actively learn how to deal with classroom discipline problems
without the risk of "damaging" a student's academic or emotional
abilities. Every teacher has made a mistake in the classroom where
they say something they shouldn't have by responding to a student
sarcastically or by losing their self control and yelling. The problem
for beginning teachers is that until now there has been no real way to
practice such classroom management techniques without putting
themselves directly into a classroom. Now, thanks to a research
project between Lockheed Martin and the University of Central Florida
teachers may one day be able to learn how to deal with classroom
discipline problems without ever coming within earshot of a real
student.
Virtual Classroom Trains Teachers In Real Life Situations
The University of Central Florida's new Virtual Classroom
is a computer generated class of five typical students, each with his
or her own unique characteristics. A teacher steps into a room with
her "class" projected on the wall in front of her and begins to teach a
lesson. As time goes on various problems arise, each one controlled by
a real life person in another room. This one person can control any of
the five students, speaking for them, and reacting to the teacher as if
in a real life situation.
For now the system is tailored to math and science
classes, but one day wouldn't it be great for new teachers to be able
to stand in front of an entire virtual band or choir classroom and
learn the basics without having to go through the school of hard knocks
as we do now? The benefits both to the teacher and to the students in
their care would be incredible. It would be a fair guess that a great
many teachers quit the profession because they cannot adequately deal
with classroom behavior issues. This type of training could help
teachers be better from day one instead of having to learn everything
through first hand experience.