Bridging the gap between preservice teachers’ theoretical and practical knowledge through simulations of teacher-parent interactions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Teacher-parent communication is one of the domains in teacher education where the gap between theory and practice is evident. Although teacher-education programmes are responsible for developing preservice teachers’ (PSTs’) effective parent-teacher communication skills, such interactions are rarely practiced during the training. Simulation-Based Learning (SBL) is one of the ways to connect theory to practice. The current study analysed a PST’s language behaviour during an SBL lesson involving a parent-teacher interaction, to consider whether and in what way the SBL experience helped bridge the gap between PSTs’ theoretical and practical knowledge. A qualitative methodology was selected using a case-study approach. The PST whose language behaviour was examined was a 33-year-old woman retraining to become a kindergarten teacher. The data were collected via a workshop transcript, an interview, and a written reflection and were analysed using linguistic and content analyses. The findings demonstrate the role of SBL in advancing the crucial aspect of effective teacher-education programmes, namely, addressing the connection between theory and practice. The study’s theoretical contribution lies in underscoring the way in which simulation contributes to bridging the gap between PSTs’ theoretical and practical knowledge.