A Roadmap for Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of Virtual Practicums in Teacher Education

Abstract

Education for students in the P-12 setting has been subject to significant changes due to access to the internet and online education availability and most recently, the novel coronavirus (COVID-2019) pandemic; therefore, teacher preparation must meet the demands of this new reality through efficacious preparation programs that reflect this reality. Teachers must meet students' unique needs across virtual platforms, which requires mentoring, practice, and training. Today, there are very few programs that prepare teachers to work in an online P-12 setting. Additionally, there is limited research on how to supervise pre-service teachers in an online setting; therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to present a theoretical framework for virtual observations of a pre-service teacher learning to teach in an online P-12 setting. Along with recommendations for partnership development, implementation, and evaluation, a protocol is offered, and recommendations for future research and conclusions are offered.