This action research study investigated the effectiveness of branching scenarios, an interactive instructional strategy, in increasing special education teacher candidates’ knowledge of classroom management methods. Branching scenarios allow learners to choose a pathway throughout a case study. In this study, candidates were presented with a variety of behavior management challenges involving students with exceptional learning needs, and then asked to choose a pathway to respond to each behavior. Scenarios were designed to provide immediate feedback on learners’ choices. This method can be effective as it allows students to learn about classroom management methods in a way that is relevant to their own experiences. A paired-samples t-test was used to compare mean scores on pre-post-tests. The results indicated that candidates’ knowledge of classroom management significantly increased after participating in the branching scenarios intervention. These findings suggest that branching scenarios may be an effective instructional strategy for teacher education.

Author: Kelly Jackson Charles

Published in: World Congress on Special Needs Education (WCSNE-2023)

• Date of Conference: 13-15 November 2023
• DOI: 10.20533/WCSNE.2023.0005
• ISBN: 978-1-913572-67-9
• Conference Location: St Anne’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK