School of Education Launches 360° Recorded Lessons for Maths Retraining Students

Tuesday, 10 October 2023

In a groundbreaking initiative, the New South Wales Department of Education has teamed up with the University of Newcastle to launch a pilot project to retrain secondary teachers to attain mathematics teaching accreditation.

Two students wear Virtual Reality goggles that simulate the classroom environment
The 360° immersive learning environments offer insights into diverse classroom teaching contexts.

To bolster this endeavour, the School of Education has introduced a range of learning aids, including SimTeach, Quality Teaching Model workshops, and the cutting-edge addition of 360° video lessons.

The 360° immersive learning environments have been crafted to offer insights into diverse classroom teaching contexts, and provides an opportunity for critical reflection.

This technology allows students to observe experienced teachers in practice and pay attention to every detail of what happens in the classroom in a non-obtrusive way.

Integrating immersive technology into teacher education programs marks a significant innovation, with the clear advantage of providing real-world, work-relevant practice to teacher education students.

Project Lead, Associate Professor Elena Prieto-Rodriguez, said that with the current shortage of teachers across the sector, this new technology is an important step in encouraging more people to become teachers.

"The 360° recorded lessons represent a leap forward in educational methodology. They provide an unparalleled opportunity for initial teacher education students beyond the confines of traditional learning," said Professor Prieto-Rodriguez.

Associate Professor Elena Prieto-Rodriguez further emphasised that the 360° recorded lessons will unlock new dimensions of learning not only for Maths retraining students but for a broader audience.

This innovation will be seamlessly integrated with the quality teaching model and disseminated through various platforms such as surround projection in dome environments, virtual reality goggles, and more.

At the project's launch event, representatives from the NSW Department of Education, the Vice Chancellor (Academic) Office, and the Hunter School of Performing Arts were in attendance. The Hunter School's classroom was selected for recording, forming the basis of this transformative video skilfully captured by a team from Creative Pipeline.

This pioneering project is poised to redefine teacher education, setting a precedent for innovative, technology-driven learning experiences in the field of mathematics instruction.

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