An Interactive Virtual Training (IVT) Simulation for Early Career Teachers to Practice in 3D Classrooms with Student Avatars

Interactive Virtual Training (IVT) is a web-based interactive simulation system created to help early career teachers working in high-poverty schools learn effective classroom management skills. IVT simulates disruptive students’ behavior (aggressive, off-task, noncompliant), as defined in vignettes developed by pedagogical experts on our team. These simulations enable early career teachers to hone their classroom management skills before they start teaching in real classrooms. In the simulation, users will interact with thirty (30) realistic diverse virtual three-dimensional (3D) "practice" students, which are situated in two (2) realistic virtual 3D classrooms. We describe IVT: (1) requirements and process mechanisms, (2) the IVT simulation of the vignettes depicting students’ behaviors, (3) 3D virtual classrooms and characters, (4) website main functionalities, and (5) contributions and challenges.