ERIC Number: EJ1256618
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1449-5554
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Virtual Internship for Developing Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, v36 n2 p27-42 2020
This study examines the use of a virtual internship (an epistemic game) for developing preservice teachers' technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). TPACK aims to capture the essential qualities of teacher knowledge that are needed for integrating technology into teaching. Virtual internships are computer-based professional practicum simulation games where participants assume the role of a professional, work collaboratively on authentic tasks, and engage in complex professional thinking. The online collaborative chat records of 33 preservice teachers who played the game over the course of 8 weeks were analysed using epistemic network analysis (ENA), which made it possible to examine the dynamic connections between various TPACK domains over time. The analysis showed that participants' TPACK representations gradually became more complex in terms of the number of pedagogical considerations and the strength of connections between pedagogical considerations, technology, and content. Suggestions are made for designing learning environments that aim to develop preservice teachers' TPACK. Implications for practice or policy: (1) Findings suggest that virtual internships are an effective means of developing preservice teachers' TPACK; (2) Teacher educators can use this knowledge when designing learning environments not only to develop preservice teachers' TPACK but also other forms of teacher professional knowledge; (3) ENA affords an innovative way to assess TPACK development; and (4) TPACK can be framed as an epistemic frame, which could better align with its conceptualisation.
Descriptors: Computer Simulation, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Technological Literacy, Technology Integration, Practicums, Games, Authentic Learning, Preservice Teachers, Preservice Teacher Education, Instructional Design, Epistemology, Thinking Skills, Computer Mediated Communication, Teaching Methods, Internship Programs, Teacher Educators, Instructional Innovation, Network Analysis
Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education. Ascilite Secretariat, P.O. Box 44, Figtree, NSW, Australia. Tel: +61-8-9367-1133; e-mail: info@ascilite.org.au; Web site: https://ajet.org.au/index.php/AJET
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: DRL0918409; DRL0946372; DRL1247262; DRL1418288; DRL1661036; DRL1713110; DUE0919347; DUE1225885; EEC1232656; EEC1340402; REC0347000
Author Affiliations: N/A

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