Developing secondary science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge through effective curriculum materials

This study investigates the degree to which the Delaware Science Coalition tenth grade biology kit curriculum supports the development of teachers' pedagogical content knowledge. A research-based construct for PCK was developed to serve as the foundation for how PCK was defined in this study.;An analysis tool was created using the Davis and Krajcik (2005) nine heuristics of effectiveness of curriculum materials to develop science teachers' PCK. The tool was created to analyze the relative effectiveness of curriculum materials in supporting and developing teachers' PCK. The Delaware Science Coalition tenth grade biology kit curriculum was analyzed against this heuristic tool, and was found to be inconsistent in developing teachers' PCK. In addition, this study addressed teachers' conceptions of PCK, and their perceptions of professional development, through a survey and through subsequent interviews. The results from the survey and interviews showed that teachers consistently adapt the curriculum to fit their needs, and also had different feelings about the professional development they experienced with the state, and at their home school. A new model for professional development was created using the research-based construct of PCK, the heuristic tool to develop teachers' PCK, and teachers' experiences with curriculum and professional development.