Training pre-service teachers through a ‘virtual’ classroom: The changes and challenges to build a better future

Education has undergone a transformation during the twenty-first century, the most notable being the development of technology and its impact on higher education courses. Students who otherwise would not have access to learning are now completing courses remotely, and many courses are available completely online. This change has presented new opportunities in the tertiary market place resulting in increase in teacher education courses. However, this has created challenges for institutions to find pre-service teaching placements in schools in an increasingly competitive market place (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, 2015). A solution is to provide students with placement experience using a virtual classroom (Glava & Glava, 2011; Reiners, Gregory, & Know, 2016; Wollard, 2011). This option would not replace but complement the existing approach. This position paper will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the application of specifically tailored digital technology and how this may impact mentor teachers, school principals and students. A virtual classroom provides scope for opportunities in order to create higher quality teachers which may build a better future world (Wong, 2016).