The knowledge base of subject matter experts in teaching : A case study of a professional scientist as a beginning teacher

Journal article

Diezmann, Carmel M. and Watters, James J.. (2015). The knowledge base of subject matter experts in teaching : A case study of a professional scientist as a beginning teacher. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. 13(6), pp. 1517-1537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-014-9561-x
AuthorsDiezmann, Carmel M. and Watters, James J.
Abstract

One method of addressing the shortage of science and mathematics teachers is to train scientists and other science-related professionals to become teachers. Advocates argue that as discipline experts these career changers can relate the subject matter knowledge to various contexts and applications in teaching. In this paper, through interviews and classroom observations with a former scientist and her students, we examine how one career changer used her expertise in microbiology to teach microscopy. These data provided the basis for a description of the teacher’s instruction which was then analysed for components of domain knowledge for teaching. Consistent with the literature, the findings revealed that this career changer needed to develop her pedagogical knowledge. However, an interesting finding was that the teacher’s subject matter as a science teacher differed substantively from her knowledge as a scientist. This finding challenges the assumption that subject matter is readily transferable across professions and provides insight into how to better prepare and support career changers to transition from scientist to science teacher.

Keywordsbeginning teachers; career change; contextual knowledge; pedagogical content knowledge; science teaching; scientist; STEM; subject matter knowledge
Year2015
JournalInternational Journal of Science and Mathematics Education
Journal citation13 (6), pp. 1517-1537
PublisherSpringer
ISSN1571-0068
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-014-9561-x
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84949101291
Open accessPublished as green open access
Page range1517-1537
FunderAustralian Research Council (ARC)
Author's accepted manuscript
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Open
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online11 Jun 2014
Publication process dates
Accepted21 May 2014
ARC Funded ResearchThis output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001
Grant IDDP0984349
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/86769/the-knowledge-base-of-subject-matter-experts-in-teaching-a-case-study-of-a-professional-scientist-as-a-beginning-teacher

Log in to edit

Download files

Author's accepted manuscript
AM_Diezmann_2015_The_knowledge_base_of_subject_matter.pdf
License: All rights reserved
File access level: Open

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 126
    total views
  • 89
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 3
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Caregivers’ Assessment of the Sensory Processing Patterns Exhibited by Children with Autism in the Gulf Region
Alsaedi, Rehab H., Carrington, Suzanne and Watters, James. (2023). Caregivers’ Assessment of the Sensory Processing Patterns Exhibited by Children with Autism in the Gulf Region. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-05937-4
Secondary school principals as change agents in Kuwait : Principals’ perspectives
Alsharija, Mohammed and Watters, James J.. (2021). Secondary school principals as change agents in Kuwait : Principals’ perspectives. Educational Management, Administration & Leadership. 49(6), pp. 883-903. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220925090
Behavioral and neuropsychological evaluation of executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder in the gulf region
Alsaedi, Rehab H., Carrington, Suzanne and Watters, Jim. (2020). Behavioral and neuropsychological evaluation of executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder in the gulf region. Brain Sciences. 10(2), p. Article: 120. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10020120
Understanding research strategies to improve ERA performance in Australian universities: circumventing secrecy to achieve success
Diezmann, Carmel. (2018). Understanding research strategies to improve ERA performance in Australian universities: circumventing secrecy to achieve success. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management. 40(2), pp. 154 - 174. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2018.1428411
Using classroom videos to stimulate professional conversations among pre-service teachers: windows into a mathematics classroom
Watters, James J., Diezmann, Carmel and Dao, Loan. (2017). Using classroom videos to stimulate professional conversations among pre-service teachers: windows into a mathematics classroom. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education. 46(3), pp. 239 - 255. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359866X.2017.1401585
The Australian early years learning framework and ICT: a part of life or apart from life?
Fox, Jill and Diezmann, Carmel. (2017). The Australian early years learning framework and ICT: a part of life or apart from life? In In M. Li, J. Fox and S. Grieshaber (Ed.). Contemporary Issues and Challenge in Early Childhood Education in the Asia-Pacific Region pp. 143 - 163 Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2207-4
Public-private partnership principles applied to industry-school partnership to support technical and vocational education
Pillay, Hitendra, Flynn, Matt, Watters, J. and Hoff, Lutz. (2016). Public-private partnership principles applied to industry-school partnership to support technical and vocational education. In Adult Education and Vocational Training in the Digital Age pp. 18-36 IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-0929-5.ch002
Engaging elementary students in learning science: an analysis of classroom dialogue
Watters, James Joseph and Diezmann, Carmel Mary. (2016). Engaging elementary students in learning science: an analysis of classroom dialogue. Instructional Science. 44(1), pp. 25 - 44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-015-9364-7
Early childhood teachers' integration of ICTs: Intrinsic and extrinsic barriers
Fox, Jillian Louise, Diezmann, Carmel Mary and Lamb, Janeen. (2016). Early childhood teachers' integration of ICTs: Intrinsic and extrinsic barriers. 39th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Adelaide, Australia: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. pp. 246 - 253
Mt St Michael's College Star Project
Lamb, Janeen and Diezmann, Carmel. (2015). Mt St Michael's College Star Project Australia: ACU.
Challenges confronting career-changing beginning teachers : A qualitative study of professional scientists becoming science teachers
Watters, James J. and Diezmann, Carmel M.. (2015). Challenges confronting career-changing beginning teachers : A qualitative study of professional scientists becoming science teachers. Journal of Science Teacher Education. 26(2), pp. 163-192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-014-9413-0
The Mathematics instructional leader: What a difference crucial conversations make
Lamb, Janeen, Diezmann, Carmel and Fox, Jillian. (2015). The Mathematics instructional leader: What a difference crucial conversations make. Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA). Australia: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. pp. 333 - 340
Co-thought gestures: Supporting students to successfully navigate map tasks
Logan, Tracy, Lowrie, Tom and Diezmann, Carmel. (2014). Co-thought gestures: Supporting students to successfully navigate map tasks. Educational Studies in Mathematics: An international journal. 87(1), pp. 87 - 102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-014-9546-2
Student or Scholar? Transforming identities through a research writing group
Lassig, Carly J., Dillon, Lisette H. and Diezmann, Carmel M.. (2013). Student or Scholar? Transforming identities through a research writing group. Studies in Continuing Education. 35(3), pp. 299 - 314. https://doi.org/10.1080/0158037X.2012.746226
Community partnerships for fostering student interest and engagement in STEM
Watters, James and Diezmann, Carmel. (2013). Community partnerships for fostering student interest and engagement in STEM. Journal of STEM Education. 14(2), pp. 47 - 55.
Revisiting educational equity and quality in China through Confucianism, policy, research, and practice
Mu, Guanglun Michael, Zheng, Xinrong, Jia, Ning, Li, Xiaohua, Wang, Shaoyi, Chen, Yanchuan, He, Ying, May, Lyn, Carter, Merilyn, Dooley, Karen, Berwick, Adon, Sobyra, Angela and Diezmann, Carmel. (2013). Revisiting educational equity and quality in China through Confucianism, policy, research, and practice. The Australian Educational Researcher. 40(3), pp. 373 - 389. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-013-0113-0
Starting small : A staged approach to professional development in gifted education
Watters, James and Diezmann, Carmel. (2013). Starting small : A staged approach to professional development in gifted education. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education. 22(2), pp. 5 - 17.
Australian women in the academy: challenges and aspirations
Diezmann, Carmel and Grieshaber, Susan. (2013). Australian women in the academy: challenges and aspirations. In In W Patton (Ed.). Conceptualising women's working lives : moving the boundaries of discourse pp. 157 - 173 Sense Publishers.
Learning to think spatially: what do students 'see' in numeracy test items?
Diezmann, Carmel and Lowrie, Tom. (2012). Learning to think spatially: what do students 'see' in numeracy test items? International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. 10(6), pp. 1469 - 1490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-012-9350-3
A framework for mathematics graphical tasks: the influence of the graphic element on student sense making
Lowrie, Tom, Diezmann, Carmel and Logan, Tracy. (2012). A framework for mathematics graphical tasks: the influence of the graphic element on student sense making. Mathematics Education Research Journal. 24, pp. 169 - 187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-012-0036-5
The development of the graphics-decoding proficiency instrument
Lowrie, Tom, Diezmann, Carmel and Kay, Russell. (2012). The development of the graphics-decoding proficiency instrument. Evaluation and Research in Education. 24(4), pp. 285 - 296. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500790.2011.629723
From Scientist to Science Teacher: A Career Change Teacher in Transition
Diezmann, Carmel M. and Watters, James J.. (2012). From Scientist to Science Teacher: A Career Change Teacher in Transition. 2nd International STEM in Education Conference. China: Beijing Normal University. pp. 108 - 114
Supporting exceptional students to thrive mathematically
Diezmann, Carmel, Stevenson, Melissa and Fox, Jillian. (2012). Supporting exceptional students to thrive mathematically. In In B Perry, T Lowrie and T Logan, A MacDonald & J Greenlees (Ed.). pp. 89 - 109 Sense Publishers.
Mid-Career professionals in STEM transiting to school teaching: Barriers at the border
Watters, James J. and Diezmann, Carmel. (2012). Mid-Career professionals in STEM transiting to school teaching: Barriers at the border. 2nd International STEM in Education Conference. China: Beijing Normal University. pp. 322 - 326
Solving graphics tasks :Gender differences in middle-school students
Lowrie, Tom and Diezmann, Carmel. (2011). Solving graphics tasks :Gender differences in middle-school students. Learning and Instruction. 21(1), pp. 109 - 125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2009.11.005
Primary Students' performance on map tasks :The role of context
Lowrie, Tom, Diezmann, Carmel and Logan, Tracy. (2011). Primary Students' performance on map tasks :The role of context. In B Ubuz (Ed.). Proceedings of the 35th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Czech Republic: International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. pp. 145 - 152
Understanding graphicacy :students' making sense of graphics in mathematics assessment tasks
Lowrie, Tom, Diezmann, Carmel and Logan, Tracy. (2011). Understanding graphicacy :students' making sense of graphics in mathematics assessment tasks. International Journal for Mathematics Teaching and Learning.
Reading students' representations
Diezmann, Carmel and McCosker, Natalie. (2011). Reading students' representations. Teaching Children Mathematics. 18(3), pp. 162 - 169. https://doi.org/10.5951/teacchilmath.18.3.0162
The Australian Story: Catalysts and inhibitors in the achievement of new women professors
Diezmann, Carmel and Grieshaber, Susan. (2010). The Australian Story: Catalysts and inhibitors in the achievement of new women professors. In Sarah Howard (Ed.). AARE Annual Conference. Australia: Australian Association for Research in Education. pp. 1 - 17
Early childhood teachers' mathematical content knowledge
Fox, Jillian, Grieshaber, Sue and Diezmann, Carmel. (2010). Early childhood teachers' mathematical content knowledge. In P Hudson (Ed.). Proceedings of the STEM in Education Conference 2010. Australia: Queensland University of Technology. pp. 1 - 11
Students as decoders of graphics in mathematics
Diezmann, Carmel and Lowrie, Tom. (2010). Students as decoders of graphics in mathematics. In L Sparrow, B Kissane and C Hurst (Ed.). Shaping the future of mathematics education. Australia: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. pp. 161 - 168
Early childhood teachers' mathematical content knowledge
Fox, Jillian, Grieshaber, Susan and Diezmann, Carmel. (2010). Early childhood teachers' mathematical content knowledge. STEM in Education Conference: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Education Conference. Brisbane, Australia: Queensland University of Technology. pp. 1 - 11
Teachers' and parents' perspectives of digital technology in the lives of young children
Fox, Jillian l., Diezmann, Carmel M. and Grieshaber, Susan J.. (2010). Teachers' and parents' perspectives of digital technology in the lives of young children. In S Howard (Ed.). AARE Annual Conference 2010. Australia: Australian Association for Reseach in Education (AARE). pp. 1 - 14
Writing together, learning together :the value and effectiveness of a research writing group for doctoral students
Lassig, Carly, Lincoln, Mary, Dillon, Lisette, Diezmann, Carmel, Fox, Jillian and Neofa, Zui. (2009). Writing together, learning together :the value and effectiveness of a research writing group for doctoral students. Proceedings of Australian Association For Research In Education 2009 International Education Research Conference, AARE. Australia: Australian Association for Research in Education. pp. 1 - 14
The Visual Side to Numeracy: Students' Sensemaking with Graphics
Diezmann, Carmel Mary, Lowrie, Tom, Sugars, Lindy A. and Logan, Tracy. (2009). The Visual Side to Numeracy: Students' Sensemaking with Graphics. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom.
An instrument for assessing primary students' knowledge of information graphics in mathematics
Diezmann, Carmel and Lowrie, Tom. (2009). An instrument for assessing primary students' knowledge of information graphics in mathematics. Assessment in Education. 16(2), pp. 131 - 147. https://doi.org/10.1080/09695940903075891
Scaffolding students' thinking in mathematical investigations
McCosker, Natalie T. and Diezmann, Carmel Mary. (2009). Scaffolding students' thinking in mathematical investigations. Australian Primary Mathematics Classroom. 14(3), pp. 27 - 32.
Primary Students' Spatial Visualization and Spatial Orientation :An Evidence Base For Instruction
Diezmann, Carmel and Lowrie, Tom. (2009). Primary Students' Spatial Visualization and Spatial Orientation :An Evidence Base For Instruction. Proceedings of the 33rd Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Czech Republic: International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. pp. 1 - 8
The role of fluency in a mathematics item with an embedded graphic: Interpreting a pie chart
Diezmann, Carmel and Lowrie, Tom. (2009). The role of fluency in a mathematics item with an embedded graphic: Interpreting a pie chart. ZDM: The International Journal on Mathematics Education. 41(5), pp. 651 - 662. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-009-0212-6
National numeracy tests: A graphic tells a thousand words
Diezmann, Carmel and Lowrie, Tom. (2009). National numeracy tests: A graphic tells a thousand words. Australian Journal of Education. 53(2), pp. 141 - 158. https://doi.org/10.1177/000494410905300204
Graphics and the national numeracy tests
Diezmann, Carmel. (2008). Graphics and the national numeracy tests. Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Australia: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. pp. 659 - 662
In Pursuit of Excellence: A Policy Driven Systemic Initiative to Embed Gifted Education
Watters, James and Diezmann, Carmel. (2008). In Pursuit of Excellence: A Policy Driven Systemic Initiative to Embed Gifted Education. Proceeding of American Education Research Association Conference. United States of America: American Educational Research Association. pp. 1 - 13
Exceptional creators to the world of children: Investigating children's authors
Diezmann, Carmel. (2008). Exceptional creators to the world of children: Investigating children's authors. The Journal of Creative Behavior. 42(1), pp. 1 - 12. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2162-6057.2008.tb01077.x
Assessing primary students' knowledge of maps
Diezmann, Carmel and Lowrie, Tom. (2008). Assessing primary students' knowledge of maps. Proceedings of the Joint Meeting of the 32nd Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. United States of America: International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. pp. 1 - 8
Solving graphics problems: Student performance in junior grades
Lowrie, Tom and Diezmann, Carmel. (2007). Solving graphics problems: Student performance in junior grades. The Journal of Educational Research. 100(6), pp. 369 - 378. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOER.100.6.369-378
Multimedia resources to bridge the praxis gap: Modeling practice in elementary science education
Watters, Jim and Diezmann, Carmel. (2007). Multimedia resources to bridge the praxis gap: Modeling practice in elementary science education. Journal of Science Teacher Education. 18(3), pp. 349 - 375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-007-9051-x
Exceptional students in mathematics
Diezmann, Carmel, Faragher, Rhonda Muriel, Lowrie, Tom and Putt, Brenda BicknellIan. (2004). Exceptional students in mathematics. In In bB. Perry, G. Anthony and C. Diezmann (Ed.). Research in Mathematics Education in Australasia; 2000-2003 pp. 175 - 196 Post Pressed.
The role of operating premises and reasoning paths in upper elementary students' problem solving
Diezmann, Carmel. (2004). The role of operating premises and reasoning paths in upper elementary students' problem solving. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior. 23(1), pp. 63 - 73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2003.12.004
Supports and concerns for teacher professional growth during the implementation of a science curriculum innovation
Peers, Cheryl (Shelley) E., Diezmann, Carmel M. and Watters, James J.. (2003). Supports and concerns for teacher professional growth during the implementation of a science curriculum innovation. Research in Science Education. 33(1), pp. 89 - 110. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023685113218
The collaboration of mathematically gifted students on challenging tasks
Diezmann, Carmel and Watters, Jim. (2001). The collaboration of mathematically gifted students on challenging tasks. Journal for the Education of the Gifted. 25(1), pp. 7 - 31. https://doi.org/10.1177/016235320102500102