, ISC3701 Assignment 2
14 May at 23h00
1. In your own words, use literature/studies to describe the concept of ‘pedagogical
content knowledge (PCK)’. Please incorporate the PCK diagram to provide more clarity to
your description.
(10)
Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) refers to the specialized knowledge that teachers
possess about how to effectively teach particular content to their students. This concept
was first introduced by Lee Shulman in 1986, and it has since become an integral part of
teacher education and professional development.
The PCK diagram, also known as the Shulman's Model of Pedagogical Content Knowledge,
shows the intersection of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and the knowledge
of students' understanding. This model illustrates how PCK is the unique blend of subject
matter knowledge and knowledge of how to teach that content in a way that is accessible
and meaningful to students.
According to Shulman, PCK involves understanding the most effective ways to present
content, explain concepts, provide examples, and assess student understanding within a
specific subject area. This knowledge also includes understanding common student
misconceptions, anticipating their learning needs, and adjusting instructional strategies as
needed to ensure student understanding and mastery of the content.
Literature and studies have further elaborated on the importance of PCK in teaching,
showing that teachers with strong PCK tend to have a greater impact on student learning
outcomes. For example, a study by Magnusson et al. (1999) found that teachers who
effectively integrated subject matter knowledge with pedagogical strategies were more
successful in promoting student understanding and retention of content.
In summary, the concept of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) emphasizes the
importance of teachers' specialized knowledge in effectively teaching specific content to
their students. The PCK diagram visually represents the intersection of content
knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and knowledge of students' understanding,
illustrating the complex and dynamic nature of PCK in teaching.
References:
Shulman, L. S. (1986). Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. Educational
Researcher, 15(2), 4-14.
Magnusson, S., Krajcik, J., & Borko, H. (1999). Nature, sources, and development of
pedagogical content knowledge for science teaching. In J. Gess-Newsome & N. G.
Lederman (Eds.), Examining pedagogical content knowledge (pp. 95-132). Springer.
