• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.235-249
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to analyze and evaluate the nature, role and development of pedagogical content knowledge in science teaching. Two research questions were considered: 1) What are the nature and the components of the pedagogical content knowledge in science teaching? 2) What is the value of pedagogical content knowledge and are there any routes and paths to developing pedagogical content knowledge for science teachers? In order to answer these questions instead of analyzing empirical data, former research literatures are reviewed. The results indicate that science pedagogical content knowledge is a special amalgam of science content knowledge and science method knowledge in a special context of science teaching that is uniquely the province of teacher based on their own special form of professional understanding. As a part of one's own distinctive bodies of knowledge, science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge is an important basis for professional development and competent teachers. It is knowledge of how to teach specific content in specific contexts, also it depends on each teachers' distinctive knowledge structure. Pedagogical content knowledge for science teaching is composed of five components: orientations toward science teaching, knowledge and beliefs about science curriculum, knowledge and beliefs about students' understanding of specific topics, knowledge and beliefs about assessment for teaching science, knowledge and beliefs about instructional strategies for teaching science. The development of science pedagogical content knowledge does not start until teachers have acquired a deeply principled conceptual knowledge of content, also it is promoted by the constant use of subject matter knowledge in teaching situations.