Blog Entry IV: TPACK

As time goes on and we progress in society, teaching in a classroom becomes more complex. The idea of technology wasn't always associated with pedagogy and content knowledge. The use of technology has grown exponentially, and has become an important part of our classrooms. TPACK (or Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge) is the perfect example of this. I think that the model of TPACK  is something that all teachers should consider from time to time when planning for their classroom activities and instruction.  

The TPACK Model

The image above shows the model of TPACK and a quick rundown of each section will be give below: 

Content Knowledge (CK): Understanding the content, concepts, facts, procedures.   

Pedagogical Knowledge (PK): Understanding the principles of instruction. Knowing what model, activity or strategy a teacher can use to teach content standards or to meet the needs of the learners. 

 Technological Knowledge (TK): To understand and operate with educational technologies.  

Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PKC): Important for understanding the methods to teach certain standards. 

Technological Content Knowledge (TCK): Understanding the role of technology in the subject matter. 

Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK): Use of technology as a tool for instruction, and to support student learning. Knowing what technology to use to make instruction more successful. 

TPACK: Understanding all of these and making learning more engaging, efficient, and effective. 

Growing up I would always hear from my friends who were struggling in math say "The teacher doesn't know how to teach". As a person that is preparing to teach math one day, this is something I want to avoid when becoming a teacher. I want to strengthen my pedagogical knowledge so that I will be able to plan and use strategies that will help my students meet and go beyond expectations. 

Using technology in the classroom is important, but it can also be tricky. When implementing technology into instruction it's important to take certain things into consideration. For example, is the technology you're using actually making the instruction better? Are the students engaging in it? Some students learn in different ways and at a different pace than others. Because of this the technology you may choose for an activity may not benefit those students. Certain technological devices may distract other students as well.  Another question you may want to ask yourself is "Am I using this technology to its fullest potential"? I say this with smart boards in mind. Based off of my personal experience as a student I know that not all teachers use smart boards to their fullest potential. Remember that you can always get feedback from your students after these activities to see what uses of technology are effective for your class. 

TPACK is a great model to follow because it helps teachers understand different domains of teaching. It can help teachers recognize what their strengths and weakness are when it comes to instruction, which allows them to work on the weakened areas. It helps promote active learning, it enriches the curriculum, strengthens relationships between students and teachers and can heighten expectations. TPACK also helps promote communication and collaboration with other teachers. Remember, sharing is caring!