Effects of Immediate Feedback Delivered via Webcam and Bug-in-Ear Technology on Preservice Teacher Performance

Abstract

University faculty and supervisors dedicated to the preparation of future teachers are facing more challenges than ever before in doing more with less. This includes supervising more preservice teachers in more schools, spread out over a wide geographic area. Feedback is essential to learning, and recent research suggests that the most effective feedback is immediate rather than delayed. New advances in technology may make the job of supervision more efficient and when used to provide immediate feedback, more effective as well. Research was conducted to evaluate the effects of using webcams and Bluetooth™ technology to deliver immediate feedback to special education preservice teachers in practicum placements from remote locations. Results suggest that immediate feedback provided via this technology was effective in increasing the targeted technique in all five preservice teachers who participated in the study. Each participant rated the intervention as acceptable. Implications for classroom application are discussed.