Virtual Training Feedback Systems

A New Approach to Teacher Training-The VR “Fishbowl” Simulator Traditional teacher training often feels like a fishbowl—teachers exposed, observed, and critiqued, as every move is scrutinized. Many recall the nerves of teaching their first lesson in an observation classroom, with mentors watching every step. While useful, observation alone is limited; real growth comes from safe practice where educators can take risks, experiment, and learn from mistakes without fear. Imagine recreating this fishbowl in a virtual world. A "Virtual Fishbowl" offers both new and experienced teachers a space to practice classroom management, test strategies, and receive immediate feedback. This VR environment, populated with AI avatars as students, simulates real-life complexities while allowing repeatable, safe practice that builds confidence and skill. Key Benefits of the Virtual Fishbowl Observing Models in Action In virtual classrooms, teachers can witness best practices and diverse instructional models. AI avatars embody different student behaviors, providing a range of scenarios that broaden teachers’ perspectives. Whether mastering questioning techniques or discipline strategies, the virtual fishbowl opens doors to experiential learning. Safe Practice Teachers can experiment with new approaches in a risk-free environment. They can address challenging scenarios—like diffusing disruptions or navigating social-emotional issues—without real-world consequences. With a “reset” option, teachers can retry techniques, boosting confidence and allowing incremental improvement. Personalized Coaching The VR system provides instant, data-driven feedback on teaching practices, such as student engagement, pacing, or questioning techniques. Combined with mentor insights, this feedback fosters a blended coaching model. Teachers adjust their techniques iteratively, aligning with a personalized professional learning cycle that drives continuous growth. Reflection and Revision VR environments allow teachers to record sessions and reflect on their methods. Embedded reflection prompts guide them in assessing their techniques, identifying areas for improvement, and realigning their approach with educational goals. This iterative revision process cultivates growth without the emotional weight of in-person scrutiny. Analyzing Impact and Planning Next Steps Teachers can assess data on student engagement and lesson effectiveness to evaluate the impact of their methods. This evidence-based approach enables informed adjustments, helping educators plan future steps in their professional learning journey. Nearly 44% of new teachers quit within five years. Traditional training often fails to fully prepare them for the classroom’s demands. The Virtual Fishbowl addresses this gap, providing practical, adaptable support that makes teacher training more accessible and sustainable. 

Real-time built-in assessment in VR training Our primary goal in designing VR training modules is to create a powerful real-time tool for tracking learning progress. This will help both trainees and instructors identify areas for improvement. So, how do we achieve this? We use built-in assessments during VR training sessions. Here are the types we use: 1. ⚠ Diagnostic assessment: Spot and fix problems in scenarios. 2. 💬 Formative assessments: They give feedback to help learners improve. 3. ➡️ Scenario-based assessments: Make decisions in real-life situations. 4. ❗️ Performance-based assessments: Complete tasks in VR. 5. ✅ Interactive decision assessment: Choose the next step in a scenario. 6. 🔠 Summative assessments: Evaluate performance at the end. We use interactive tools in our VR training modules to diversify assessments. For instance, we use a wristwatch for assessment and benchmarking. It gives instant feedback on the user's actions. Using various assessments helps learners review actions, see flaws, and strengthen knowledge. This builds expertise. What assessment methods have you found effective? #Design #VR #XR #UI #UX #VirtualReality #Edtech #UnraelEngine #GameDev #VRAssessment #Electricity #VRTraining #Training #Education #ElectricalTraining #TrainingProvider #Upskilling

Can a virtual program with real time feedback using natural language processing help teachers create better math lessons? 💻 Yasemin CopurGencturk and Jingxian Li (both of the USC Rossier School of Education) and Sebnem Atabas set out to answer this question with their paper (link in the comments) published in May 2024. 💡 The findings? Researchers created an online program that gives teachers real time feedback using intelligent tutoring systems. In the study, teachers who used the program developed richer math lessons and connected ideas better, helping students understand math concepts more clearly. This shows that smart, interactive training can make a measurable difference in how teachers teach with impacts on student learning. 📄 Full abstract: Scalable and accessible professional development programs have the potential to address the opportunity gap many teachers experience. Yet many asynchronous online programs lack interaction with and timely feedback to teachers. We addressed this problem by developing a virtual, interactive program that uses intelligent tutoring systems to provide just‐in‐time feedback to teachers. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with teachers across the United States in which teachers were assigned to either this program or no additional training. We found that teachers who completed our program (N = 29) used mathematically richer tasks and created a more coherent, connected learning environment for students to build conceptual understandings than did teachers who were in the business‐as‐usual condition (N = 23). ✳ Like the last research paper, this studied natural language processing (and not generative AI). #genaiedimpact