Expert and pedagogical content knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Expert and pedagogical content knowledge - Essay Example One may gather this kind of knowledge through a training specific to that field through the assimilation of intense theoretical and practical assessment and methods. Pedagogical content knowledge was described by Shulman (1987a) as the combination of content and pedagogy into the comprehension of how certain topics, issues, or problems are structured, characterized and modified to the varied concerns and abilities of learners for instruction. This is the knowledge on how to teach the subject matter to beginners. Example of pedagogical content knowledge is the information on organizational framework that may serve as effective aid for individuals who want to learn the basics of organizational psychology. Basically, both expert and pedagogical knowledge is important in teaching. Without expert knowledge, the instructor would not have a strong foundation and would have low credibility for teaching a specific field. If he doesn't have the knowledge to teach the subject matter then, it would not also be effective. There had been a shift on the focus of learning from the teacher to the student (Angelo, 1997). Another distinction made was that teacher-centered mode of instruction is more content-driven while learner-centered instruction is learning process-driven (Cuseo, n.d.). Santrock (2003) came up with the principles of learner-centered instruction. One of his principles was goals of learning. He explains that goal setting helps student learning. This is in connection to motivation which can come from external factors such as the teachers and the environment and could also come from the person himself with his realization of important matters. Both of these will lead to the formation of a goal. When I was in the fourth grade, I was beginning to be aware of some of my classmates' academic excellence. I just thought of striving to make it to the honors list in order to know the feeling of being there. That was also when I got my first set of encyclopedia. I studied everyday reading every page of the encyclopedia. I was determined to perfect my tests and was actively participating in class. I became recognized in class and gained attention from my teachers. This started my participation in other extra-curricular activities. I got what I wanted and made it to the honors list. I became a consistent honor student until high school. That became my foundation and the experience itself acts as my present motivation. Using technology in the educational environment Classroom instruction has become easier and more efficient with the advent of technology. Present modes of teaching have utilized technology for audio and visual enhancement. For the visual aspect, instructors have used over-head projectors in the past and at present power point presentations are the most commonly used. Studies show that verbal instruction coupled with visual presentation yields more positive learning results as compared to receiving verbal instructions alone. This mode of presentation enables the instructor to prepare for the lecture in advance. This can also increase attention rates of students because of clear and organized lectures. These presentations can also be transferred, printed and uploaded to the internet so that the information can be