The Forth Knowledge Domain a Teacher Should Have: The Pedagogical Content Knowledge

When the studies carried out about the areas of knowledge that a teacher should
have are examined, three categories are found as: “content knowledge”, “pedagogical
knowledge”, and “general cultural knowledge” in our country. But in the recent
years, a forth knowledge area called the “pedagogical content (PCK)” which is as
significant as the other three knowledge areas is introduced and the courses have
been started for the acquisition of this knowledge in teacher training programs. In
this study, first, the emergence of the PCK and the definitions made by various
researchers are presented. Second, the elements of the PCK and the development
models are explained. Third, the samples of the studies conducted on the PCK in
the literature are reviewed. Finally, suggestions are made about how to develop preservice
and in-service teachers’ PCK and to keep the continuity of this knowledge.