1. Knowing and understanding what I teach:
The role of the teacher in recontextualising school subject content
Dr Nick Gee
Head of the School of Teacher Development

2. Relevance to the competency framework
The session will inform reflection/discussion on:
The importance of subject knowledge & understanding in informing teaching (1.1 & 1.2.3)
Educational trends regarding the significance of subject knowledge (1.2.1 & 1.3.1)
How the school curriculum can be implemented (1.2.3 & 1.3.1)

3. Overview The session will focus on 3 questions:
What is the importance of subject knowledge?
What subject knowledge is important?
What is subject knowledge recontextualisation?

4. (1) What is the importance of subject knowledge?
Which is more important….
Being a teacher of your subject or a teacher of children?

5. (1) What is the importance of subject knowledge?
To foster and maintain pupils’ interest
To address misunderstandings
To interpret statutory curricula, frameworks, syllabi
To engender enthusiasm & curiosity
(QTS standards)
To inspire joyful learners (SEA – TCP)

6. (2) What subject knowledge is important?
Which of the following is the most valuable subject knowledge?:
Academic, disciplinary knowledge
Examination board, ‘correct’ knowledge
Prescribed, school framework knowledge

7. (3) What is subject knowledge recontextualisation?
The process by which knowledge is removed from the original site of production and is turned into something else
Ideas of Basil Bernstein: Bernstein, B. (1990), The Structuring of the Pedagogic Discourse, London: Routledge

8. (3) What is subject knowledge recontextualisation?
The role of the teacher:
Disciplinary knowledge +
Recontextualised knowledge
(curriculum, pedagogical, resources)
= school classroom knowledge

9. (3) What is subject knowledge recontextualisation?
School subject knowledge recontextualisation may entail:
Selecting resources
Representing material
Pitching content
Ordering, sequencing & pacing delivery
Designing assessments

10. Concluding thoughts? Why is subject knowledge important?
What subject knowledge is valued?
How important is teacher autonomy (in recontextualisation)?