Evaluation of the Persistent Issues in History Laboratory for Virtual Field Experience (PIH-LVFE)

Abstract

The Persistent Issues in History Laboratory for Virtual Field Experience (PIH-LVFE) combines a database of video cases of authentic classroom practices with multiple resources and tools to enable pre-service social studies teachers to virtually observe teachers implementing problembased learning activities. In this paper, we present the results of two studies designed to provide formative evaluation results from our initial implementations of PIH-LVFE resources with preservice social studies teachers. In study A, we examined usability issues with regard to the PIHLVFE interface with a small group of pre-service teachers. In study B, we examined pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the usefulness and benefits of PIH-LVFE resources when they were integrated into a focused reflection activity utilizing one specific video case.