Coaching can significantly improve skill development among pre-service teachers, according to a new study using mixed-reality simulations for practice and assessment.

The study, coauthored by the University of Virginia’s Julia Jackson Cohen, found that coaching in a simulated environment can have significant impacts on skills like classroom management, as well as perceptions of student behavior and approaches to addressing perceived behavioral issues.

Cohen discusses her team’s findings, and their potential implications for teacher education during – and following – the COVID 19 pandemic.

Cohen, Julie, Vivian Wong, Anandita Krishnamachari, and Rebekah Berlin. “Teacher Coaching in a Simulated Environment.” Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, (February 2020).