Early Field Experiences Through Telepresence Robots

Abstract

This chapter describes the use of telepresence robots in early field experiences for the placement of teacher candidates in rural schools that would be inaccessible because of location. After a small, pilot program illustrated the utility of the telepresence robots, the program was scaled up to place over 60 teacher candidates across 14 rural school districts. As an emerging technology, the college has learned numerous lessons about how to prepare and support teacher candidates, host teachers, and school districts to use telepresence robots as a part of an educator preparation program to provide diverse experiences in classrooms.