Components Of Pedagogical Content Knowledge Research Articles

EXAMINING PHYSICS TEACHERS’ DOMAIN-SPECIFIC PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE COMPONENTS IN LESOTHO SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is considered an important ingredient in shaping classroom practice. PCK requires valid measurement at domain-specific level on different components excluding the teaching context. While the research focuses on measuring the PCK of unqualified teachers and pre-service teachers, the description of qualified teachers’ domain-specific PCK is often overlooked. The purpose of this study was to measure quantitatively the domain-specific PCK of qualified physics teachers focusing on the five PCK components: content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, assessment knowledge, knowledge of students and curricular knowledge. Data were collected through the paper-and pencil PCK test that was responded to by 87 Physics teachers teaching the last two years of secondary school. Data were analyzed using the Extended Rasch Model and descriptive statistics. The results revealed that Physics teachers have a low PCK in general and low levels of PCK components, the lowest being content knowledge. The study recommends regular refresher workshops for qualified teachers focused on developing different PCK components, with more emphasis on content knowledge. Keywords: pedagogical content knowledge, physics teachers, domain-specific PCK, PCK components

Evaluation of Teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) Understanding Profile

This research aimed to assess teachers' understanding of the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) structure and investigate whether TPACK components differ based on gender characteristics. The research method used was a cross-sectional survey, a quantitative approach aimed at examining a condition at a specific point in time and exploring relationships between variables. Respondents were randomly selected from 102 teachers spread across Lombok Island, comprising 48 female teachers and 56 male teachers. The research instrument utilized a TPACK questionnaire measuring CK, PK, TK, TPTCK, and TPCK, adapted from Liang et al., 2013. The analysis results indicated that teachers demonstrated a solid understanding of Content Knowledge (CK) and Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), signifying a strong grasp of the taught material and effective teaching techniques. However, concerning Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), their understanding of how to teach specific content required further attention. Nevertheless, they exhibited a robust understanding of Technological Knowledge (TK), Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPTCK), and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK), although the level of understanding in TPCK was slightly higher than TPTCK. Meanwhile, the gender-based analysis showed significant differences in TPACK understanding between the genders in the TK, TPTCK, and TPCK components, but no significant differences were observed in the PK, CK, and PCK components. This highlights the importance of understanding gender differences related to specific aspects of technology, education, and content knowledge. Further research or in-depth analysis is needed to comprehend the underlying factors causing these differences and their implications within the educational context and curriculum development.

Comparing the Feedback of University Supervisor and Cooperating Teachers for Preservice Science Teachers within the Scope of Pedagogical Content Knowledge

To comprehend the perspectives of school and university mentors in evaluating practicum experiences based on educational reform, this study aimed to investigate the feedback, within the framework of pedagogical content knowledge, provided by two cooperating teachers and a university supervisor to preservice teachers. Observation and document were used for data collection. Data collected within the context of the Teaching Practice course were analyzed deductively, considering the components of pedagogical content knowledge. Findings showed that although feedback given by mentors was positive or corrective, specific changes suggested by mentors about the preservice teachers’ teaching practices were rather corrective. Although mentors’ feedback seems to be concentrated in the fields of ‘instructional strategies and representation’ and ‘pedagogy,’ the majority of feedback provided in other PCK components points out those mentors focused on student learning within the knowledge of ‘student understanding’. Feedback indicated that mentors especially attached importance to students’ understanding of the subject and active participation in the learning, which are the goals of a science teaching program. The other aims of teaching based on inquiry and students’ self-responsibilities in learning seemed to be in the background. Although mentors’ feedback pointed out some differences in the categories of curriculum and assessment, they were consistent in general.

University instructors’ orientations to teaching science

ABSTRACT Orientation is a component of pedagogical content knowledge and represents a general view of teaching and learning science. Science instructors hold orientations to teaching science teachers and orientation can be illustrated by an instructor’s purposes and goals for instruction. Due to the central role of the instructors in preparing qualified teachers, this study examines orientations of five university instructors to teaching science in the education department of a state university. Observations and interviews were used for data collecting and the data were analysed deductively. Findings showed that the participants had multiple orientations and displayed mainly academic rigour and inquiry/guided inquiry orientations, but not the discovery, project based and activity driven ones. It was seen that instructors developed research-based orientation types of academic rigour and conceptual change focusing on students’ gain of content knowledge, and reform/curriculum-based orientations of inquiry, guided inquiry and process. The study indicated that orientations to teaching science of instructors especially from the new generation had partially been transformed in the direction of the educational reforms. Professional development activities with participation of instructors holding student centred orientations would contribute to increasing knowledge and changing beliefs/practices of more experienced instructors.

Examining the educative nature of selected physical sciences textbooks about electrostatics using pedagogical content knowledge

ABSTRACTCurriculum statements are crucial documents for guiding teaching and learning as they describe the content and skills to be acquired by learners. Textbooks translate curriculum statements into materials for use in schools. This study examines the educative nature of three physical sciences textbooks about electrostatics using the lens of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). PCK describes the transformation of content into teachable forms and its evidence in textbooks would contribute to the teachability of the content in question. The study analyses textbooks as a source of information that can help teachers transform concepts of electrostatics into teachable forms. The study also proposes a possible model that describes the role of textbooks on teachers' knowledge and practice, as they are not considered in current PCK theories. The framework includes components of PCK described in the grand rubric and the support provided by curricular materials to teachers. The components of PCK are curricular saliency, learners' understanding of concepts, representations, and conceptual teaching strategies. The analysis revealed that curricular saliency was the most predominant component displayed in the textbooks compared to the other components. It is therefore recommended that textbooks should consciously include other PCK components, i.e., representations and strategies that address learners' difficulties.

Evidence of the Development of Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Chemistry Teachers about Redox Reactions in the Context of a Professional Development Program

In this study, we investigated the impact of a continuing professional development program (CPD) on the development of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of chemistry teachers regarding the topic of redox reactions. For this purpose, a CPD program designed to develop teachers’ PCK on redox reactions was examined. During the course, teachers were observed and their activities were analyzed. The data collected were based on responses to the CoRe instrument, lesson plans, vignettes, and audiovisual records of the CPD program. Qualitative thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data, focusing on the five components of PCK proposed by Park and Oliver. The results demonstrate that teachers, after participating in the continuing education program, were able to independently develop the components of PCK at different levels, with the knowledge of instructional strategies showing the most prominent improvement. Additionally, it was observed that the components could potentially be integrated, suggesting the potential for enhancing PCK in the context of redox reactions.

Analysis of supervisor’s written feedback addressing pre-service science teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge during teaching practice

The feedback received during teaching practice (TP) has a lasting impact on pre-service teachers’ teaching knowledge and practice among the learning experiences of the teacher education program. This study analyzed written feedbacks offered by supervisors to pre-service science teachers (PSTs) (biology, chemistry, physics, health education, and mathematics) during TP observation generally, but with particular attention to those addressing pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). The study adopted a phenomenological design of qualitative research and written feedback in 40 PSTs’ lesson notes were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. Apart from the few written feedback related to PCK, some were not specifying the teaching knowledge or practice they intend to correct or affirm. Majority of the written feedback addressed general pedagogical knowledge. The written feedback related to PCK was more generic to the science discipline than topic-specific. Conceptual teaching strategies and representation were the components of PCK addressed in the feedback. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the college supervisor should avoid offering feedback that specifies no direction of improvement during the supervision of PSTs during practicum.

Suggestions for the Analysis of Science Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge Components and Their Interactions

Suggestions for the Analysis of Science Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge Components and Their Interactions

Seeking Traces of Filters and Amplifiers as Pre-service Teachers Perform Their Pedagogical Content Knowledge

This study examined how filters and amplifiers affect pre-service science teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in a human and environment unit. The redefined consensus model for PCK and decision-making framework for identifying how personal and extra-personal factors act as filters and amplifiers were selected as theoretical frameworks. Two pre-service science teachers participated in the study. While pre-interviews were used to determine participants’ PCK before teaching, observations and post-interviews were used to reveal participants’ PCK after teaching, and how filters and amplifiers influenced PCK. Data were analyzed deductively to examine teachers’ PCK including interactions among components and the way filters and amplifiers act on PCK. Constant comparison analysis revealed five general assertions of how filters and amplifiers shaped the decision-making process when these teachers enacted their PCK. First, the number of amplifiers and filters affecting knowledge of instructional strategies was the highest. Second, the number of amplifiers and filters affecting knowledge of curriculum in science was the lowest. Third, the effect of filters and amplifiers on PCK components was idiosyncratic. Fourth, the more (or the less) the map was integrated; the less (or the more) amplifier and filter influenced the PCK. Fifth, the number of personal factors affecting knowledge of instructional strategies was highest. Implications are suggested considering the effects of filters and amplifiers on teachers’ PCK.

A review of research on pedagogical content knowledge in science and mathematics education in the last five years

This study aims to review Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) studies related to science and mathematics education in the ERIC database. In addition, journals published in the Eric database were searched using the same keyword. Thirty-five science and mathematics education studies were analyzed using standards from the related literature. A qualitative thematic review was conducted in this study. All articles were downloaded and read by the researchers. Each researcher examined them together to determine themes. The themes determined were the subjects and topics studied, the profile of the participants, the data collection instruments, the study design, and the consideration of pedagogical content knowledge with its components. The results were reviewed in terms of the competencies of preservice and in-service science and mathematics teachers in pedagogical content knowledge, the analysis of the development of prospective teachers' pedagogical content knowledge, and the components of pedagogical content knowledge. Some implications of these findings were suggested for determining and developing pedagogical content knowledge of prospective and in-service science and mathematics teachers.

Unfolding Teachers’ Interpretative Knowledge into Semiotic Interpretative Knowledge to Understand and Improve Mathematical Learning in an Inclusive Perspective

In this article, grounded in the concept of interpretative knowledge (IK), which is well known in the literature, we introduce and discuss the construct of semiotic interpretative knowledge (SIK). This theoretical tool unfolds the interpretation of conceptual knowledge into a broader construct that intertwines the use of semiotic representations with the manifold aspects of mathematical learning. In the first part of the article, we first introduce Duval’s semio-cognitive approach, in which semiotics is the element characterizing the specific cognitive functioning of mathematics. On the basis of some classic examples from the relevant literature, we then show the necessity of introducing the semiotic component into IK to expand the interpretive power of the teacher. In the second part of the article, through the analysis of six episodes involving students with a specific learning disorder (SLD) engaged in mathematical activities, we show how the development of the teacher’s SIK emerges as a necessary condition for the implementation of inclusive teaching practices. This permits us to face the research question focused on how SIK allows us to understand the student’s behavior in a special needs educational context and provide effective feedback. In this sense, SIK is shown to be an intrinsic prerequisite of inclusive teaching, thus extending the concept of IK to the components of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK).

Learning to teach chemical bonding: a framework for preservice teacher educators

Chemical bonding is an important topic which is difficult to teach well, especially for novices. This study set out to support preservice teacher educators by developing a framework for understanding and addressing the complexity of teaching chemical bonding. A model of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in science education that has been widely endorsed by experts in the field was adopted as the theoretical lens. First, a systematic literature review was performed to articulate what recent empirical studies can tell us about the knowledge teachers require to teach chemical bonding. The review corpus consisted of 59 articles published over the past 20 years relating to four components of PCK: knowledge of how chemical bonding is embedded in curricula, knowledge of student understanding related to this topic, knowledge of instructional strategies and representations for teaching chemical bonding, and knowledge related to the assessment of chemical bonding understanding. This yielded current collective PCK for teaching chemical bonding in chemistry teacher education. Next, nine chemistry teacher educators were asked to portray their own personal knowledge for teaching chemical bonding through content representations. Analysis of the content representations revealed differences between several aspects of the collective PCK derived from the literature and the personal PCK articulated by our sample of Dutch chemistry teacher educators. Finally, findings from the literature and the teacher educator content representations were synthesized into a framework for chemistry teacher educators. Uses of the framework are discussed, and sample applications to the design of classroom activities are offered. Finally, implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are addressed.

Revealing the development of interaction among components of pedagogical content knowledge in teaching chemical equilibrium

This study aimed to capture the development of interaction among the components of pre-service chemistry teachers’ enacted PCK throughout the school experience course. Data were collected from four pre-service teachers using content representation (CoRe), observations, field notes, and semi-structured interviews. Secondary analysis was conducted by re-analyzing the pre-existing data for the previous study (Ekiz-Kiran B., Boz Y. and Oztay E. S., (2021), Development of pre-service teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge through a PCK-based school experience course, Chem. Educ. Res. Pract., 22(2), 415–430.) from a different perspective to find out the interaction among the components of pre-service chemistry teachers’ enacted PCK. In order to analyze data, we used three approaches: an in-depth analysis of explicit PCK, an enumerative approach, and the constant comparative method. Results were presented as PCK maps, and results indicated that the development of the integration of the PCK components was idiosyncratic. Moreover, the most significant development was seen in the connections between knowledge of curriculum and other components, especially knowledge of assessment. Additionally, knowledge of instructional strategy (KoIS) was the most frequently integrated component with the other PCK components. Implications for research and science teacher education are included.

Трудни теми в учебното съдържание по химия от гледна точка на учителите

Teachers’ knowledge of students’ difficulties is a major component of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and a key element for effective instruction. The current research aims to identify teachers’ PCK for: difficult topics in the chemistry curriculum; reasons for student difficulty; students’ interest towards difficult topics and the skills needed to be successful in chemistry. For this purpose a questionnaire survey was conducted among 20 chemistry teachers from different schools in Bulgaria. Participating teachers consider Chemical equilibrium, Chemical calculations and Organic chemistry as being most difficult. Metals, nonmetals and their compounds, Redox reactions and Atomic structure on the other hand are viewed as easier and more interesting. Understanding scientific concepts, principles and laws, self-studying and logical thinking are the skills students need to be successful in chemistry. Teachers believe student difficulties are due to: the abstract nature of chemistry; the fact that learning chemistry requires effort, regular study and prior mathematical knowledge; insufficient instructional time and lack of interest towards the subject.

Teachers’ Perceived Enacted Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Biology at Selected Secondary Schools in Lusaka

The pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of teachers influences students’ achievement of the learning outcomes. This study examined teachers’ perceived enactment of PCK in biology. The quantitative survey design was adopted by using a Likert-scale questionnaire consisting of six components of PCK, namely curricular saliency, students’ prior knowledge, what makes the subject easy or difficult, representations, conceptual teaching strategies, and assessment. Data on teachers’ perceived enacted PCK (ePCK) were collected from 54 biology teachers selected from 14 secondary schools in three districts of Lusaka province. The data were analyzed by computing descriptive and inferential statistics using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The findings revealed that: (a) respondents’ perceived ePCK was high (M = 4.29, SD = .37), (b) respondents’ perceived ePCK was not influenced by gender, teaching experience, and type of school, (c) respondents’ perceived ePCK was influenced by their academic qualifications, (d) the component students’ prior knowledge and misconceptions was the most enacted component, and (e) the component what makes the subject easy or difficult was the least enacted component. The results highlight areas in teachers’ PCK that require enhancement. The study recommends using teacher professional development to enhance teachers’ ePCK in the component what makes the subject easy or difficult to understand. Further research may use larger samples and more data sources to increase the validity of the findings.

Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge in teaching Chinese pronunciation

Three kinds of knowledge that effective teachers should master have been proposed: content knowledge (CK), pedagogical knowledge (PK), and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Most PCK studies have been conducted in the mathematics or science domain. In recent years, a growing number of studies related to foreign language teachers’ PCK have appeared. However, there is a paucity of studies that explore teachers’ PCK in the field of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL). In this study, we present a conceptualization of Chinese as foreign teachers’ PCK when they teach Chinese pronunciation. The research design builds on semi-structured interviews involving 20 CFL teachers ( n = 20), focusing on five PCK domains: (1) teachers’ knowledge of Chinese pronunciation subject content (initials, finals, tones, intonation, and stress), (2) their curriculum knowledge, (3) their knowledge of students’ mistakes and difficulties, (4) their knowledge of Chinese pronunciation-specific instructional strategies, and (5) their knowledge of instructional media. The results show that CFL teachers reflect a strong mastery of PCK concerning teaching tones, followed by initials and finals. Teachers’ PCK regarding teaching intonation and stress were much weaker in all five PCK components. Their PCK of teaching intermediate-level and advanced-level students was also limited by curriculum and time arrangement restrictions.

The Analysis of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) at Natural Science Teachers in SMP Negeri 4 Sidoarjo

This study aims to analyze (1) Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) profile of IPA teachers in teaching science in terms of PCK component in pentagon model (2) constraint of PCK science teacher in teaching science. The PCK component consists of five components including: Component K1 (teaching orientation), K2 (knowledge of Curriculum), K3 (knowledge of students), K4 (knowledge of learning strategy) and K5 (knowledge of assessment). The research is a qualitative with phenomenology approach. The subject of the research was a science teacher at SMPN 4 Sidoarjo. Data collection techniques in this study using documentation, observation and interviews. Data analysis phase using Miles and Huberman model. Test the validity of the data used triangulation technique. Based on the research results revealed PCK teacher profile: K1 component is science learning oriented to develop the cognitive, psychomotor and affective aspects of students by applying constructivism learning theory, K2 component that is understanding the curriculum 2013 and apply it to learning but conducted development on objectives, content and learning materials, K3 component: identify that students do not experience misconception and in managing the classroom asking the students who have the advantage to help other students, K4 component is applying discovery learning model with scientific approach 5M (observing, asking, collecting data, associating and creating), K5 component is the assessment of the students covering 3 aspects (cognitive, affective and psychomotor) with assessment methods of quetion and observation, and teachers do not experience PCK constraints in teaching Water Pollution Material. In the next research is expected to reveal three other teacher competencies.

Sosyobilimsel argümantasyona yönelik pedagojik alan bilgisi (PAB) bileşenlerinin etkileşimindeki değişimin incelenmesi: Deneyimlerin etkisi

The purpose of this research is to examine how elementary teachers' learning and teaching experiences and seniority change pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) integrations for socioscientific argumentation. PCK Mapping, which is a pictorial methodology approach, was used to achieve these aims. This research is a multiple case study, which is one of the qualitative research patterns. In this study, which lasted for a total of 10 weeks, five elementary teachers were included in the learning and teaching process related to socioscientific argumentation and PCK. The data were collected from all participants through the lesson plan and PCK interview protocol at the beginning and end of the course. Data from these applications have been appropriately integrated and subcategorized according to PCK components. These data were analysed through in-depth analysis of explicit PCK, inductive method, enumerative approach, PCK mapping and the constant comparative method. The results revealed that experiences contributed in different ways to the integration of PCK for socioscientific argumentation. Experiences increased the importance of the knowledge of students’ understanding. Furthermore, it was determined that while this course less affected the elementary teachers with little professional experience, it more affected the elementary teachers with more professional experience. In view of socioscientific argumentation processes, seniority threshold can be mentioned in the change of the integration of PCK which has an idiosyncratic nature. The educational implications of these results, which have been discussed in the light of the existing literature, have been also mentioned.

Lessons from an Integrative Review of Special Education Research on Pedagogical Content Knowledge in South Korea

ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this study was to synthesise the current research related to special education teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Inclusion and exclusion criteria yielded a total of 13 studies, six of those using a qualitative approach and seven of those using a quantitative approach, and all the studies were from research conducted in South Korea. Findings were presented in terms of a general overview of the selected studies, eight methods and measures of assessing PCK of special education teachers (i.e. survey, text, questionnaire, interview, lesson observations, meeting observations, document analysis, and concept mapping), and eight components of PCK (e.g. knowledge of students’ (mis)conceptions/difficulties, knowledge of instructional strategies, knowledge of content-related tasks and cognitive demands, knowledge of educational ends, knowledge of curriculum and media, context knowledge, content knowledge, and pedagogical knowledge). Based on the findings, lessons learned from the current status of PCK research in the field of special education in South Korea and ways to strengthen research and practice for special education teachers’ PCK will be discussed.

How are undergraduate STEM instructors leveraging student thinking?

BackgroundSTEM instructors who leverage student thinking can positively influence student outcomes and build their own teaching expertise. Leveraging student thinking involves using the substance of student thinking to inform instruction. The ways in which instructors leverage student thinking in undergraduate STEM contexts, and what enables them to do so effectively, remains largely unexplored. We investigated how undergraduate STEM faculty leverage student thinking in their teaching, focusing on faculty who engage students in work during class.ResultsFrom analyzing interviews and video of a class lesson for eight undergraduate STEM instructors, we identified a group of instructors who exhibited high levels of leveraging student thinking (high-leveragers) and a group of instructors who exhibited low levels of leveraging student thinking (low-leveragers). High-leveragers behaved as if student thinking was central to their instruction. We saw this in how they accessed student thinking, worked to interpret it, and responded in the moment and after class. High-leveragers spent about twice as much class time getting access to detailed information about student thinking compared to low-leveragers. High-leveragers then altered instructional plans from lesson to lesson and during a lesson based on their interpretation of student thinking. Critically, high-leveragers also drew on much more extensive knowledge of student thinking, a component of pedagogical content knowledge, than did low-leveragers. High-leveragers used knowledge of student thinking to create access to more substantive student thinking, shape real-time interpretations, and inform how and when to respond. In contrast, low-leveragers accessed student thinking less frequently, interpreted student thinking superficially or not at all, and never discussed adjusting the content or problems for the following lesson.ConclusionsThis study revealed that not all undergraduate STEM instructors who actively engage students in work during class are also leveraging student thinking. In other words, not all student-centered instruction is student-thinking-centered instruction. We discuss possible explanations for why some STEM instructors are leveraging student thinking and others are not. In order to realize the benefits of student-centered instruction for undergraduates, we may need to support undergraduate STEM instructors in learning how to learn from their teaching experiences by leveraging student thinking.