TPACK

#TPACK- Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge, hor TPACK, is the balanced equation of a person’s knowledge and application of technology, content to be taught, and the “art of teaching it.” When one is teaching, they must possess effective skills of communicating the content in which they know thoroughly to their students, while applying proper and effective use of technology to further the students’ understanding.

A teacher that I know who uses technology beautifully along with her teaching style and content knowledge is Mrs. Sparks. She taught middle school science during a time when the internet was not readily available in the schools. However, her use of scientific equipment made science exploration come to life!

She knew all about every aspect of atoms, molecules, elements, plant and animal reproduction, and the Earth! She had models of molecules, cells, and Earth for us to manipulate and better understand our new knowledge. In addition, she used preserved animals to demonstrate adaptations  and other animals parts. Along with “edible representations of science that she took the time to make at home for us. She used her famous M&M chocolate chip cookies to teach us about metamorphic rocks, and she made rainbow layered cupcakes for us to take a “core sample” of the Earth. We used a clear straw to stick down into our cupcake and pulled it out for us to learn about the layers of the Earth, as we could see the colorful layers through the clear straw.

Today, she teaches in a small, private classroom on a volunteer basis. She has taken the same amazing teaching skills and enhanced it with broadening her technological skills and resources to teach science. She now uses iPads for data collection in lab experiences, classroom discussion using “Twiddla,” and teaching “Coding.”

Mrs. Sparks was, and still is, a great example of a TPACK teacher due to her elaborate content knowledge, skills of effective teaching and consistent use of technology while teaching.

For me personally, I am strongest in content knowledge area of the TPACK. I love to research and study. Therefore, whatever subject I find myself teaching, I will be very knowledgeable about it. An area I am weakest in is technology. While I have grown a lot in this particular area, I still have a ways to go. Also, with technology rapidly changing there is always something new to learn! Sometimes connecting the more relevant technology with the content is the most challenging aspect for me.