1. Pedagogical Content Knowledge – Elementary Mathematics
NextGen STEM Teacher Preparation in WA State
PCK Working Group
March, 2019

2. Questions guiding this review
What mathematical knowledge does teaching elementary mathematics require?
What is pedagogical content knowledge as it relates to elementary mathematics?
How do prospective teachers acquire pedagogical content knowledge through their coursework?

3. The MKT Egg

4. Subject Matter Knowledge
Common Content Knowledge (CCK) – content knowledge that is common to educated adults, not needed for teaching
Specialized Content Knowledge (SCK) – content knowledge that is needed for teaching
Horizon Content Knowledge (HCK) – knowledge of how content connects with mathematics on the horizon

5. Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Knowledge of Content and Students (KCS) – combines knowledge of students with knowledge of mathematics: challenges, confusions, misconceptions, interests, motivations, strategies, interpretations
Knowledge of Content and Teaching (KCT) – combines knowledge of teaching with knowledge of mathematics: design of instruction, sequencing content, examples, representations, “pedagogical issues that affect students’ learning”
Knowledge of Content and Curriculum (KCC) – knowledge of how content is represented and sequenced in mathematics curriculum resources

6. Example: Multiplication of Whole Numbers
Common Content Knowledge – how to multiply two whole numbers
Specialized Content Knowledge – knowing and understanding multiple ways to multiply; representations; assessing correct and incorrect answers
PCK: Knowledge of Content and Students – knowing what misconceptions and challenges students may face; assessing students’ strategies and thinking
PCK: Knowledge of Content and Teaching – assessing a sequence of different multiplication strategies; choosing representations that help students make sense of the mathematics
PCK: Knowledge of Content and Curriculum – knowing how and why a curriculum has structured its content in a particular way
Horizon Knowledge – knowing where this is going; why particular representations may be important

7. Frequent Tasks of Teaching Mathematics that use PCK:
Posing mathematical questions
Giving and appraising explanations
Choosing or designing tasks
Using and choosing representations
Recording mathematical work on the board
Selecting and sequencing examples
Analyzing students’ errors
Appraising students’ unconventional ideas
Mediating a discussion
Attending to and using math language
Choosing or using math notation

8. Assessing Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching
A common reason for isolating MKT and PCK is to find ways to assess it and connect it to student learning.
Learning Mathematics for Teaching Project (LMT) -
“What is LMT?  Our project investigates the mathematical knowledge needed for teaching. These measures include items that reflect the real mathematics tasks teachers face in classrooms - for instance, assessing student work, representing numbers and operations, and explaining common mathematical rules or procedures. Assessments composed of these problems can be used to measure the effectiveness of mathematics-focused professional development.”

9. Reviews of literature focused on MKT and PCK:
Matthews (2013): The Influence of the Pedagogical Content Knowledge Framework on Research in Mathematics Education: A Review Across Grade Bands, notes that many studies in mathematics education that are not labeled PCK involve significant aspects of PCK.
Mecoli (2013): The Influence of the Pedagogical Content Knowledge Theoretical Framework on Research on Preservice Teacher Education, suggests ways that preservice teachers develop PCK through their ocursework.

10. From Matthews (2013)
At the elementary level – Cognitively Guided Instruction, MKT Framework (showed increase in student learning from teachers’ increased PCK)
Post-secondary level – “need for attention to the mathematics learning of teacher preparation candidates”; yet shifts to actual PCK of university instructors

11. Studies explaining when PSTs learn PCK:
Mecoli (2013) include two math-related studies:
Kinach (2002) challenges the linearity of content knowledge, then pedagogical content knowledge.
Geddis and Wood (1997) examine a teacher educator’s self-study of developing students’ PCK; how to balance PSTs’ immediate needs (e.g., classroom management) with goals of mathematics teacher education
Morris, A. K., Hiebert, J., & Spitzer, S. M. (2009). Mathematical knowledge for teaching in planning and evaluating instruction: What can preservice teachers learn? Results indicated that “preservice teachers can identify mathematical sub-concepts of learning goals in supportive contexts but do not spontaneously apply a strategy of unpacking learning goals to plan for, or evaluate, teaching and learning. Implications for preservice education are discussed.”

12. PCK plays important roles in these frequent Tasks of Teaching Mathematics:
Posing mathematical questions
Giving and appraising explanations
Choosing or designing tasks
Using and choosing representations
Recording mathematical work on the board
Selecting and sequencing examples
Analyzing students’ errors
Appraising students’ unconventional ideas
Mediating a discussion
Attending to and using math language
Choosing or using math notation