Abstract:

In analyzing the training of teachers, remedial educators and school administrators, we note that major technological changes have occurred in recent years. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to accelerated technological development in various fields, including teaching. At the same time, Quebec educational establishments are experiencing a shortage of staff of all types. This shortage, due to a lack of human resources to welcome future teachers for internships, reduces access to teaching environments for research projects, as well as for training future teachers during their internships. Faced with this challenge, we took advantage of recent technological developments to create a virtual reality simulation learning environment based on the use of 360° video and interactive activities, grouped together on a website designed for the training of teachers, orthopedagogues and school administrators.

As a training tool, whether initial or ongoing, 360° video offers undeniable advantages, including:
1) developing learners' reflexivity by viewing themselves in the course of professional interactions;
2) preparing and accompanying internships by enabling them to view the complexity of professional contexts;
3) developing learners' perceptive skills by offering them the opportunity to focus their attention on various aspects of their professional task (Roche, 2023).

This paper presents the preliminary results of the ongoing project on developing the skills of a diversity of school actors by integrating 360 video capsules into a multi-use platform (Huot et al., 2021). Here, we focus on the functionalities developed from scientific literature, as well as on the many possibilities for use. Finally, the discussion will focus on further technological and theoretical developments in support of research and training.

Keywords:

Educational administration, virtual reality, school management, teachers training.