Cultural Competence and Professional Development in Teacher Education through Clinical, Role-Playing, and Mixed Reality Simulations: A Model Based on Universal and Contextualized Skills
Summary
The SITE IRN was established to advance research on simulation-based learning in teacher education, initially with a particular focus on cultural competence and professional development across clinical, role-playing, and mixed-reality simulations. During its first year, the network’s collaborative work has developed into a broader shared research agenda around the pedagogical purposes, simulation modalities, design characteristics, and learning processes of simulation-based learning in teacher education.
Current work focuses on developing a shared conceptual language across simulation modalities; advancing the SITE taxonomy for describing and comparing simulation models; examining how different forms of simulation support professional learning across educational and cultural contexts; and fostering international research collaboration and scholarly exchange. Through collaborative in-person and online meetings, webinars, joint research and conceptual initiatives, and contributions to international forums, SITE provides a platform for connecting diverse simulation traditions and advancing research-informed simulation in teacher education.
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Conveners and members
Orna Levin
Achva Academic College, Israel
orna_l@achva.ac.il
María Laura Angelini
Catholic University of Valencia, Spain
marialaura.angelini@ucv.es
SITE Network Members:
Agnieszka Lewicka-Zelent, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland
Anamaria Marc, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania
Benjamin Dotger, Syracuse University, USA
Dorota Chimicz, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland
Hanneke Theelen, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
Heidi Flavian, Achva Academic College, Israel
Isabel Torrijos, Catholic University of Valencia, Spain
Jody Siker, Northeastern Illinois University, USA
Lisa Dieker, University of Kansas, USA
Marlene van Heel-Bradbury, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
Merav Esther Hemi, Shaanan Academic College, Israel
Olga Chernikova, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany
Raluca Pop, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania
Ronen Kasperski, Gordon College for Education, Israel
Sara Dexter, University of Virginia, USA
Susan Ledger, University of Newcastle, Australia
Ye Juyan, Beijing Normal University, China
IRN Report
Publications and other IRN activities
SITE International Webinar: https://weraonline.org/event/webinar-building-the-future-of-simulation-in-teacher-education/
An international WERA webinar bringing together researchers and practitioners to explore current developments in simulation-based learning in teacher education and to extend engagement with the SITE network.
SITE IRN in-person seminar advances simulation in teacher education: https://weraonline.org/site-irn-in-person-seminar-advances-simulation-in-teacher-education/
In-person three-day SITE seminar hosted by the Catholic University of Valencia, highlighting the network’s work on the pedagogical purposes of simulation, development of a shared taxonomy, and future international collaboration.
Selected collaborative scholarship involving SITE members:
- Angelini, M. L., & Pop, R. (2026). Simulating complexity for praxis and cultivating consciousness: Virtual exchange as a transformative space for teacher education. In Handbook of Using Virtual Exchange Across Disciplines: Building Global Citizens from Home. Emerald.
- Kasperski, R., Levin, O., & Hemi, M. E. (2025). Systematic literature review of simulation-based learning for developing teacher SEL. Education Sciences, 15(2), 129. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020129
- Hemi, M. E., Kasperski, R., & Levin, O. (2025). Exploring the role of facilitators in clinical simulations: Challenges and practices. Professional Development in Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2025.2536258
Selected joint conference contributions involving SITE members
- Levin, O., & Angelini, M. L. (2026). Designing for reflection: Metacognitive activation in teacher education simulations. EARLI SIG 4 & 11 Conference, Helsinki, Finland.
- Angelini, M. L., Muñiz, R., & Torrijos, I. (2026). Cultivating Global Citizenship: Teacher Professional Development through Web-based Simulation. The 14th European Conference on Education, London, UK.
- Flavian, H., & Levin, O. (2026). Future-oriented reflection in simulation-based learning: A Freirean lens on teacher development across modalities. AERA 2026, Los Angeles, USA.
SITE IRN members during an online collaborative working session, reflecting the network’s ongoing international collaboration across countries and institutions.
SITE IRN members at the Catholic University of Valencia during the three-day international seminar, March 18–20, 2026.
SITE IRN members during the network’s three-day in-person seminar in Valencia, Spain, March 18–20, 2026.
Countries of IRN Members: