Music educators are required not only to master the body of knowledge representing the music curriculum, but to manage instruction so that they may convey this knowledge effectively and efficiently to their students. In order to promote good instruction, teachers find that a systematic behavioral management plan is required. Unfortunately, many…

This paper describes a university program designed to upgrade the presentation of course content in the sciences and mathematics to prospective elementary classroom teachers. Presented in the paper are data on efforts to evaluate implementation and perceptions of the science and mathematics faculty (n=5) who played an instructional role in this…

The mathematical growth of a pre-service elementary teacher over the period of a semester is detailed. This student had an unusual combination of very poor basic computational skills and a capacity for higher level problem solving involving algebraic notation. The extent to which one or two semesters of mathematics content, however…

In this paper the development of science pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in elementary teachers is considered, with a particular focus on beginning teachers. Explored is a conceptualization of the development of science pedagogical content knowledge in elementary teachers which emerged from two studies. The first examined the science teaching…

This self-study was designed to explore problem based learning (PBL) as an instructional approach in the context of a large preservice science education course. It addressed how the teacher educator would structure PBL to foster student engagement in learning, how she would enhance her own pedagogical content knowledge through the self-study, and…

Environmental educators often maintain that elementary education should work to improve and protect the environment by producing environmentally informed, committed, and active citizens. However, research shows that implementation of environmental education in elementary schools is problematic and not very successful. This paper identifies a…

This paper describes the development of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in secondary chemistry and physics preservice teachers. Teacher beliefs are intricately tied to how they make decisions for implementing instructional strategies, and those beliefs aid in the development of pedagogical content knowledge. A model for pedagogical content…

This paper presents the stories of two urban middle school science teachers, both identified as leaders in their districts. Both bring substantial expertise to science education, though neither has experienced optimal conditions for flourishing as teacher leaders. One teacher has strong content knowledge and a deep understanding of standards. The…

This report draws on the findings of nearly four dozen others: national and international studies that speak with a strong, collective voice about what it takes to improve math and science education. But the authors' intent with "World Class" is not simply to synthesize those reports. It is to establish a statewide, working agenda for…

Defines "pedagogical reengineering." Indicates how tele-learning can bring about enrichment or reengineering in the pedagogical profile of a course. Illustrates these ideas through experiences with four cycles of a particular course. Suggests a general approach for deciding where and how to integrate World Wide Web-based functionalities into…

Explores the involvement and professional growth of a teacher in a professional development project entitled Simply Science. Findings indicate an increase in the teacher's pedagogical content knowledge and confidence in teaching science and a change in her views about cooperative learning strategies. Discusses implications for the design of…

Issues related to the development of test items to assess pedagogical content knowledge for an elementary school licensure test are discussed. The subject test is the Connecticut Elementary Education Certification Examination. Several items useful for assessing pedagogical content knowledge are described. (TJH)

This case study examined the criteria one high school physical education teacher employed in acquiring the knowledge he found necessary for his professional practice. Through interviews, observations, artifact and document analysis, and stimulated recall from videotapes, it was determined that the teacher had developed five distinct knowledge…

Presents a description of pedagogical content knowledge in mathematics, constructed from interviews with fifth grade teachers; suggests modifications in the general conception of pedagogical content knowledge based on this description, and suggests revisions in teacher education practices to improve teachers' understanding of pedagogical content…

Examines the structure of pedagogical knowledge housed in the memory of an experienced teacher educator and the influence of this knowledge on changes in the pedagogical knowledge structures of prospective teachers. The study involved teachers enrolled in one of three different sections of the same teaching methods course. (GLR)