Technological Content Knowledge (TCK)

From TPCK

Technological content knowledge is knowledge about the manner in which technology and content are reciprocally related to each other. Although technology constrains the kinds of representations possible, newer technologies often afford newer and more varied representations and greater flexibility in navigating across these representations. Teachers need to know not just the subject matter they teach, but also the manner in which the subject matter can be changed by the application of technology.

For example, consider Geometer’s Sketchpad as a tool for teaching geometry. This allows students to play with shapes and form, making it easier to construct standard geometry proofs. In this regard, the software program merely emulates what was done earlier when learning geometry. However, the computer program does more than that. By allowing students to “play” with geometrical constructions, it also changes the nature of learning geometry itself – proofs by construction are a form of representation in mathematics that was not available prior to this technology. Similar arguments can be made for a range of other software products.