Science, technology, and teaching: The topic-specific challenges of TPCK in science

Much of science today is dependent on technology so it is easy to see how science and technology go hand in hand.  Consider mass spectrometry used by surgeons to detect tumor margins.  Teaching science is not something I know about, but because I have a deep respect for certain medical developments and highly value technology as an embedded component of different sciences, I am concerned for teachers who teach science and students who learn from them.

Science teachers are especially challenged in this day of technology because “unlike more conventional lab equipment, there is no standard, expected configuration of digital technologies for science teaching” (p. 202) and they change rapidly.  Furthermore, one size does not fit all:  students differ and technology resources differ from school to school. The science teacher must be a pioneer to determine what is available, how it can be used with particular students and if possible be in the forefront of obtaining and developing resources for their school.

I find similarities between teaching science and teaching children with autism, where there is a need to determine what the student/s “find hard to learn and where they hold misconceptions or stubborn misinformation” (p. 200).  Evaluation after the class/session is over is important with regard to technology and autism because both require attention to “context and content specific knowledge” (p. 199).

A parallel also exists between teaching science with technology and teaching children with autism and that is the risk involved and the need to anticipate problems-to have detailed backup plans for the (many) times something goes wrong. Another similarity is that techniques are often developed in practice and in response to specific students and contexts requiring the teacher to be flexible, knowledgeable and quick on her feet.

As a side note, I am motivated by this chapter to find software created for behavior analysts for collecting and analyzing data including calculating inter-observer agreement.  In the past I have done everything by hand.