Using Mixed Reality Simulations to Prepare Preservice Special Educators for Collaboration in Inclusive Settings

Preservice special education teachers need to understand how to navigate multiple collaborative relationships in inclusive settings. In order to effectively prepare teachers, preparation programs must provide meaningful, scaffolded, and realistic opportunities for practice. Increasingly, teacher preparation programs are incorporating mixed reality simulations to prepare preservice teachers for collaborative classroom environments. Findings are presented from research on the utility of a mixed reality simulation in a teacher preparation course on collaboration. There were significant shifts in preservice teacher perceptions of their readiness to work in collaborative settings from the beginning to the end of the study, as well as improvement in communication skills. Findings hold implications for the preparation of special and general education teachers.