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
Authors | Diezmann, Carmel M. and Watters, James J. |
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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. |
Keywords | beginning teachers; career change; contextual knowledge; pedagogical content knowledge; science teaching; scientist; STEM; subject matter knowledge |
Year | 2015 |
Journal | International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education |
Journal citation | 13 (6), pp. 1517-1537 |
Publisher | Springer |
ISSN | 1571-0068 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-014-9561-x |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-84949101291 |
Open access | Published as green open access |
Page range | 1517-1537 |
Funder | Australian 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 status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 11 Jun 2014 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 21 May 2014 |
ARC Funded Research | This output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 |
Grant ID | DP0984349 |
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
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Author's accepted manuscript
AM_Diezmann_2015_The_knowledge_base_of_subject_matter.pdf | |
License: All rights reserved | |
File access level: Open |
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