Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK), A Conceptual Framework for an Increasingly Technology Driven Higher Education?

Abstract

Higher Education (HE) professionals generally work in an ICT rich environment. There are expectations that the existence of ICT benefits them, their students and the overall learning environment. These assumptions are often left unchallenged due to a lack of developed theoretical frameworks. This paper introduces and critiques the TPCK framework by reviewing the origins of the concepts used in its formulation and by experimenting with the model in the context of a HE course. Although the TPCK framework raises and focuses the debate about technologies in education this paper suggests some key issues are potentially missing. The paper suggests that pedagogic design needs a clear focus on the role of the learner in the process and that HE requires collaborative communities of practice that include ICT ‘enthusiasts’ within any course team. The paper suggests these are key factors in enhancing the capacity of the HE staff to engage positively, collaboratively and critically with the growth of learning technologies and in turn design appropriate and successful online components within their courses.

Keywords

• e-learning
• Pedagogy
• Technology
• Teacher education