Unpacking graduate students’ knowledge for teaching solution chemistry concepts

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 258-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob C. Lutter ◽  
Lillian V. A. Hale ◽  
Ginger V. Shultz
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Undergraduate Curriculum ◽  
Solution Chemistry ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Knowledge For Teaching ◽  
Laboratory Courses

Graduate students play a critical role in undergraduate education at doctoral-granting institutions and yet their training is often brief and overgeneralized. Little is known about how they develop knowledge for teaching chemistry in this context. To further understand how graduate students develop knowledge for teaching, we used a questionnaire to measure pedagogical content knowledge of solution chemistry concepts. These concepts are revisited frequently in the undergraduate curriculum, particularly in laboratory courses where graduate students commonly teach. Questions were included to measure both the pedagogical content knowledge and content knowledge of graduate students with a range of teaching experience. Analysis revealed that graduate students’ content knowledge is stronger than their pedagogical content knowledge, which increases modestly with teaching experience. Interviews were performed with a subset of respondents to determine whether they interpreted the questions as intended and the source of knowledge they used in responding. The interviews revealed that graduate students relied heavily on their own experience as students rather than direct experience teaching solution chemistry concepts.

The development of a tool for measuring graduate students' topic specific pedagogical content knowledge of thin layer chromatography

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 700-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. V. A. Hale ◽  
J. C. Lutter ◽  
G. V. Shultz
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Thin Layer ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Thin Layer Chromatography ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Student Teaching ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Teaching Expertise ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Layer Chromatography

Graduate students play a critical role in undergraduate education at doctorate granting institutions; but generally have minimal opportunity to develop teaching expertise. Furthermore, little is known about how graduate students develop teaching expertise in this context. We investigated the development of topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge among chemistry graduate student teaching assistants (GTAs). Thin layer chromatography was selected as the topic of investigation because undergraduate students encounter it throughout organic chemistry lab and it is connected to several foundational chemistry topics. An instrument was developed to measure both content knowledge (CK) and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of thin layer chromatography for GTAs with a range of teaching experience. Data from the test instrument were transformed using the Rasch model and statistically analysed. Our analysis showed that graduate students at all levels of experience performed well on content knowledge questions, but even experienced GTAs demonstrated low levels of pedagogical content knowledge. Importantly, experienced GTAs demonstrated a greater proficiency than novice GTAs, which suggests that pedagogical content knowledge is developed over time.

Teaching assistants' topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge in1H NMR spectroscopy

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 653-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Connor ◽  
G. V. Shultz
Keyword(s):  
Nmr Spectroscopy ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Teaching Assistants ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chemistry Teaching ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Knowledge For Teaching ◽  
H Nmr

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an essential analytical tool in chemistry, and the technique is routinely included as a topic across the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. As a result of NMR's importance, classroom instruction of this topic has received considerable attention in chemistry education research. However, little is known about instructors’ knowledge for teaching this topic. In order to better understand this knowledge, we investigated topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge in1H NMR spectroscopy among 20 chemistry teaching assistants at a large Midwestern university in the United States. A questionnaire was developed to provide an inferential measure of content knowledge and topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge in1H NMR spectroscopy for participants with a range of teaching experience. Data from the questionnaire were analyzed qualitatively and quantized using a rubric. The quantitative data were transformed using the Rasch model and statistically analyzed. Results from these analyses indicate that pedagogical content knowledge increased with teaching experience in1H NMR spectroscopy, suggesting that knowledge for teaching this topic is developed through practice. Additionally, the development of pedagogical content knowledge was found to depend upon content knowledge required for specific NMR sub-topics and problems. This finding suggests that the ultimate “grain-size,” or domain-specificity, of pedagogical content knowledge may extend to the problem level. Results from this study have implications for how instructors may cultivate knowledge for teaching NMR spectroscopy, as well as for how pedagogical content knowledge may be more effectively incorporated into instructor training programs.

scholarly journals Content Analysis of the Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the Curriculum of Yemeni EFL Teacher Education Programme

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Morshed Salim Abdullah Al-Jaro ◽  
Adelina Asmawi ◽  
Zuwati Hasim
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Teacher Education Programme

This study aims to analyse the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in the current curriculum of the English teacher education programme (ETEP) at a Faculty of Education in a Yemeni University. PCK and teaching competencies take shape within the initial preparation of ETEP in which student teachers spenda long time receiving knowledge and understanding the teaching context before they practically experience teaching at schools. During their BA study, students are required to study 49 courses which can be categorised into four main components: skills, linguistics, literature and professional. This study analyses the content of the curriculum courses so as tovisualise the way student teachers translate what they have learned into pedagogical practices during their teaching practices. In this study, the curriculum content of ETEP is qualitatively analysed using the inductive approach. Categories emerged from the analysis demonstrate various aspects of student teachers’ PCK. The analysis reveals that the pedagogical skills courses are not enough to enhance and strengthen the student teachers’ PCK needed to be reflected in their teaching practices. The findings show that the curriculum lacks courses necessary to provide student teachers with basic knowledge and pedagogical principles which are of vital significance to demonstrate their understanding before they are practically engaged in the teaching experience.

scholarly journals Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and the Teaching of Science: Determiners for Professional Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fitri Suraya Mohamad
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Pedagogical Knowledge ◽  
Science Content ◽  
Extensive Experience ◽  
Pedagogical Content

The study investigates how Science teachers articulate their self-confidence in teaching Science with technology. Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) is used as the primary tool to describe their practice. Using a quantitative approach, with an initial survey of 408 science teachers from 59 secondary schools in a state in East Malaysia, descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to assess science teachers’ level of TPACK and discriminate differences between perceptions on TPACK related to their teaching experience. Findings revealed that the level of Content Knowledge (CK), Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), Technological Knowledge (TK) and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) are high, in comparison to their Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) which were recorded at a moderate level. The study also found how teachers with more extensive experience teaching reported higher confidence with their CK, PK and PCK. Novice teachers indicated slightly higher confidence in their TK. The study provides a set of determiners for professional development opportunities for Sarawak Science teachers to upskill their knowledge to integrate science content, pedagogy, and technology.

Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Theoretical Description ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Knowledge For Teaching ◽  
K 12

Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) is a dynamic theoretical description of teachers' knowledge for designing, implementing, and evaluating curriculum and instruction with digital technologies. TPACK portrays the complex interaction among content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technological knowledge for guiding all teachers (K-12 and higher education faculty) in the strategic thinking of when, where, and how to direct students' learning with technologies. Teacher educators' and educational researchers' acceptance of the TPACK construct mirrors the acceptance of its parent construct of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). The importance of teachers' continued practice in integrating technologies is essential for extending and enhancing their TPACK. Connections with the knowledge-of-practice construct suggest calling TPACK TPACK-of-practice to more accurately describe the process of the knowledge development efforts for guiding inservice and preservice teachers in gaining, developing, and transforming their knowledge for teaching as new and more powerful technologies emerge for integration in education. Ultimately, the very nature of the TPACK construct describes a transformation of teachers' knowledge for teaching in the 21st century – a century reframed by robust and advanced technologies that have been integrated into the fabric of a more complex social, cultural, and educational environment.

Don't Reinvent the Wheel: Capitalizing on What Others Already Know about Teaching Topics in Evolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-136
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Ziadie ◽  
Tessa C. Andrews
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Career Stages ◽  
Collective Knowledge ◽  
School Students ◽  
Teaching Evolution ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Knowledge For Teaching

What knowledge do you need to be an effective instructor? One key type of knowledge is pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), which includes awareness of how students are likely to think about a topic and where they will struggle as they learn that topic. We propose PCK as a valuable framework for reflecting on your own knowledge for teaching topics in evolution. We have created a searchable file that uses PCK as a framework to organize over 400 peer-reviewed papers from 40+ journals to give you better access to relevant resources for teaching evolution to undergraduates and advanced high school students. None of us have time to read 400 papers to inform our teaching, so we provide tips to maximize your use of this collective knowledge in the time you have available. We have written these to be useful to instructors across career stages.

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