what is TPACK?
TPACK, which stands for Technology, Pedagogy, Content, and Knowledge, is a digital integration model that purposefully considers all facets of the teaching and learning process in order to effectively align technological resources with content to best support curriculum and instruction. Each of the three main components serves its own purpose apart from the others; however, when aligned, each component synergizes the other(s).
- Component 1: Content
- First, and foremost, teachers need to know the content that they are teaching. Without a proficient understanding of the information being taught, no amount of integrated technology will promote learning.
- Component 2: Pedagogy
- Second, knowing when, why, and how to provide instruction to children is key to delivering content in a purposeful and effective manner.
- Component 3: Technology
- And lastly, use and application of technology and technological resources in a purposeful manner will enhance instruction and transform learning for students. This is achieved with fidelity and efficacy only if the teacher can proficiently practice aligned instructional strategies and has a sold grasp of the instructional material
- TK - Technology Knowledge
- Knowing what the technology is and how to operate the technology.
- PK - Pedagogical Knowledge
- Knowing curriculum and instruction practices to teach a variety of learners.
- CK - Content Knowledge
- Knowing the content and information that is to be taught to the learners.
- TPK - Technology and Pedagogy knowledge
- In this combination, Content is missing. An example of TPK would be a veteran social studies teacher, using Google Drive and other digital learning tools, taking a teaching position for math. The content knowledge needed to proficiently teach math is missing.
- TCK - Technology and Content knowledge
- In this combination, Pedagogy is missing. An example of TCK would be a new lateral entry teacher, using Google Drive and other digital learning tools, taking a teaching position for math with a M.S. in Mathematics. The pedagogical knowledge needed to proficiently teach math is missing.
- PCK - Pedagogy and Content knowledge
- In this combination, Technology is missing. An example of PCK would be a veteran math who does not know how to use Google Sheets when teaching the unit of instruction on statistics. The technology knowledge needed to proficiently teach math, in a digitally integrated manner, is missing.
- TPACK - Technology, Pedagogy, and Content knowledge
- This is the goal of digital integration - to use technological resources that enhance, promote, and transform pedagogy in order for students to learn, retain, and transfer the content and curriculum that is presented via instructional practices. When instruction is planned with TPACK considerations, the SAMR Model becomes a very beneficial resource when determining how, when, and why to integrate the digital resource.