Teacher Professional Development Focusing on Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Because pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) includes teachers' understanding of how students learn, or fail to learn, specific subject matter, the development of PCK is an important goal to focus on in professional development programs. The research literature clearly indicates the complex natu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Educational researcher 2012-01, Vol.41 (1), p.26-28
Main Authors: Van Driel, Jan H., Berry, Amanda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Art teachers
Behavioral Objectives
College instruction
Educational Objectives
Educational Practices
Educational research
Educational Strategies
Expert teachers
Instructional development
Knowledge
Knowledge Base for Teaching
Learning
Literature
Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Pedagogy
Policy Analysis
Policy Forum
Primary secondary education
Professional Development
Science education
Senior teachers
Students
Teacher education
Teacher effectiveness
Teachers
Teaching effectiveness
Topic and comment
Training Objectives
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Summary:Because pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) includes teachers' understanding of how students learn, or fail to learn, specific subject matter, the development of PCK is an important goal to focus on in professional development programs. The research literature clearly indicates the complex nature of PCK as a form of teachers' professional knowledge that is highly topic, person, and situation specific. This implies that professional development programs aimed at the development of teachers' PCK cannot be limited to supplying teachers with input, such as examples of expert teaching of subject matter. Instead, such programs should be closely aligned to teachers' professional practice and, in addition to providing teachers with specific input, should include opportunities to enact certain instructional strategies and to reflect, individually and collectively, on their experiences.
ISSN:0013-189X
1935-102X
DOI:10.3102/0013189X11431010