Mathematics and Science Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Course Description

This three credit hour course focuses on the idea of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for mathematics and science teaching: the intersection of content specific knowledge and pedagogy. According to Shulman (1986), PCK includes "the ways of representing and formulating the subject that make it comprehensible to others...Pedagogical content knowledge also includes an understanding of what makes the learning of specific topics easy or difficult: the conceptions and preconceptions that students of different ages and backgrounds bring with them to the learning of those most frequently taught topics and lessons." Recently, the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics has called for a greater focus, coherence, and rigor in understanding key mathematical concepts (CCSSI, 2010). In teaching content courses for preservice teachers, Thanheiser et al., (2010) focus on engaging preservice teachers in developing their own understanding, facilitating opportunities for mathematical communication, and conducting formative assessments of their knowledge and development to inform mathematics instruction. Similarly, the Next Generation Science Standards (Quinn et al, 2012) emphasize that teachers' knowledge be built around crosscutting concepts that unify the study of science and engineering through their common application across fields. For mathematics, this course will focus on geometry, measurement, and data analysis, which are topics expected by the CCSS but have little room in ECE 3017 due to time constraints. For science, the content will focus on crosscutting topics emphasized in the NGSS in the physical, life, and earth science and engineering.

Code

ECED 4207

Credits

3

Subject

ECED