Teachers go through VR Training to learn how to better deal with unruly students
We all have biases, but teachers have special challenges dealing with them.
A look into a pair of these goggles and you’re standing in front of a classroom full of loud, taunting middle-school students.
“This class is so dumb,” the program shouts.
The catch? None of the students are real. But, they’re meant to train teachers on how to minimize implicit biases through a new program called “Educational Equity VR.”
“The really important thing to remember about it is, it’s not a decision, it’s not a conscious choice it’s a thought that flits through your mind under stressful situations and it may not even be what you actually believe or your heart felt values,” says the brains behind the program, Wendy Morgan.
Morgan taught a wide variety of students for 15 years, so she knows very well the challenges that come with it.
That’s why she’s now teaching other teachers through virtual reality.
It works by a teacher slipping on the goggles and giving a lesson just like they would on a normal day. Then, the facilitator sends out different slurs or distractions at the teacher.
After, the teacher goes through a quick mindfulness session and tries the lesson again – hoping for a better response to the students.
Next comes the debrief and talking through any reactions that could’ve been handled better.
“I’ll mention something, ‘Hey, why aren’t you paying attention?’ My class is the most important thing that’s going on right now and then realizing that their family is just getting evicted from their home or you know they had someone die in their family,” teacher Greg McKelvey says.
Morgan says connecting with every student and knowing their story will help get rid of teacher bias, as well as staying healthy and remembering to be present in the moment.
“You can’t give of yourself, which teaching requires, until you have something to give from,” she says.
The first step towards a better classroom experience for everyone.
The program is still in phase one and is seeking funding for phase two – hopefully in time to launch for school use by next Spring.
Source: Kval