2019 Simulations in Teacher Education Conference

The Simulations in Teacher Education Conference (NSF Grant #1813476) was facilitated by ETS and the University of Central Florida in February 2019, and was aimed toward building a research and development agenda for examining the role of simulations in K–12 science and mathematics teacher education. The conference was structured to provide opportunities for attendees to share their current research, theoretical models, conceptual views, and use cases focused on the design and use of simulations for building and assessing K–12 science and mathematics teachers’ competencies.

Watch the Stem for All Video Showcase to see photos and video from the conference.

The conference was organized around several major goals, including:

1. defining how simulations (technologically mediated and face-to-face formats) are conceptualized, operationalized and utilized in K–12 science and mathematics teacher education
2. documenting and determining the challenges of the varied contexts, audiences and purposes for which simulations are used in K–12 science and mathematics teacher education
3. making explicit the theories of action and conceptual views supporting the simulation models being used in K–12 science and mathematics teacher education
4. determining implications of the current research and development work in this space and establishing an agenda for studying the use of simulations in K–12 science and mathematics teacher education

Short papers

Prior to the start of the conference, each conference attendee — working either individually or with a small team — authored a brief paper to describe the focus of their current work developing, using, and/or studying the role of simulations in K–12 science and mathematics teacher education. In addition to an overview, each short paper included a description of the project's guiding theory of action explaining how the key features of the simulation model being used are hypothesized to develop teachers' competencies. Each short paper also described the project's main research findings (if applicable) and learnings, and posed some ideas and questions about future directions for work in this area.

View the conference short papers (PDF).

Synthesis papers

Following their short paper submissions, each conference attendee had an opportunity to read and review a set of four short papers written by other conference attendees about their current work developing, using, and/or studying the role of simulations in K–12 science and mathematics teacher education. After reading these short papers, each conference attendee then authored a paper to synthesize ideas across the various projects. Each synthesis paper highlighted observations about the commonalities and/or differences in how the authors of the short papers define simulations, in the theories of action used, and in the lines of research and development described.

View the conference synthesis papers (PDF).

Conference sessions and presentations

Below are presentations of some of the conference sessions. View the full conference schedule (PDF).

Opening keynote

Simulations as Approximations of Practice: New Ways to Understand and Improve Teaching (PowerPoint)

Julia Jackson Cohen, University of Virginia

Plenary Session #1: Exploring Use Cases and Assessment Design — Simulation Models and Theories of Action in Science

• Pre-service Middle School Science Teachers Practice Leading Discussions with Virtual Avatars (PowerPoint)
  Daniel M. Levin, University of Maryland, College Park
• Learning to Notice Elementary Students' Ideas and Use of Science Practices in Tool-Supported Rehearsals (PowerPoint)
  Amanda Benedict-Chambers, Missouri State University
• Maximizing Data Collection During a Teaching Observation, For Analysis, Feedback, and Reflection in the Context of Teaching Simulations Using an App-based Tool
  Craig Berg, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Simulated Student Interviews for Pre-service Elementary Science Teaching (PowerPoint)
• Elizabeth A. Davis, University of Michigan

Plenary Session #2: Exploring Use Cases and Assessment Design — Simulation Models and Theories of Action in Mathematics

• Developing Elementary Teachers' Ability to Facilitate Discussions in Science and Mathematics Via Simulated Classroom Environment (Go Discuss) (PowerPoint)
• Heather Howell, ETS
• Rehearsals of Teaching: A Simulation of Complex Practice (PowerPoint)
• Hala Ghousseini, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Simulation Instruction in Mathematics Professional Development (SIM PD) Study
  Rachel Garrett, American Institutes for Research
• The Assessing Teaching Practice Project: Simulations of Eliciting and Interpreting Student Thinking
  Timothy Boerst and Meghan Shaughnessy, University of Michigan

Plenary Session #3: Exploring Use Cases and Assessment Design — Simulation Models and Theories of Action Targeting Special Populations in Science and Mathematics

• Authentic, Effective, Real Time Interactions in Simulation (PowerPoint)
  Kate Ingraham, University of Central Florida and Morgan Russell, Mursion^®
• Simulating English Learner Instruction: Assessing Teacher Growth Using a Pre-/Post-Teaching Cycle
  Paige Ware and Ann Marie Wernick, Southern Methodist University
• Agile Thinking: Deciding to Teach Every Student (PowerPoint)
  Rhonda Bondie, Harvard University
• Mixed Reality Simulation in the Preparation of Secondary Math and Science Teachers for Teaching Native Spanish Speaking Students
  Angela Chapman, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Note: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant #1813476. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. This event was co-facilitated with the University of Central Florida.