Science Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge

John Loughran
Monash University

Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is the knowledge that teachers develop over
time, and through experience, about how to teach particular content in particular ways
in order to lead to enhanced student understanding. PCK comprises a rich conceptual
understanding of the particular subject content to be taught combined with expertise in
developing, using and adapting teaching procedures, strategies and approaches, for use
in particular classes.
PCK has been made explicit in a number of ways, but one format of particular interest is
made up of two elements. The first element is called a CoRe (Content Representation;
pronounced ‘core’) which offers an overview of the particular content taught when
teaching a topic. The second element is called PaP-eRs (Pedagogical and Professional–
experience Repertoires; pronounced ‘papers’), which are succinct but specific accounts
of practice that are intended to offer windows into aspects of the CoRe.
A CoRe provides an overview of how a given group of teachers conceptualize the
content of particular subject matter or topic. A CoRe links the how, why and what of the
content to be taught. A CoRe is based on the ‘Big Ideas’ of the topic and how they are
understood when examined through a number of prompts or questions of teachers.
A PaP-eR is a narrative account of a teacher’s PCK that highlights a particular piece, or
aspect, of science content to be taught. A PaP-eR is designed to purposefully unpack a
teacher’s thinking about a particular aspect of PCK in that given content and so is
largely based around classroom practice. PaP-eRs are intended to represent a teacher’s
reasoning, that is, the thinking and actions of a successful science teacher in teaching
specific aspects of science content.
This keynote will describe and explain PCK through research based on CoRes and PaP-
eRs and is designed to not only illustrate the sophisticated knowledge of science
teachers but to also illustrate why that work needs to be more highly valued and prized.