TPACK? What's That?

Source: Knox Schools

There's a wide variety of frameworks and models that we can use to evaluate ourselves as educators using technology in the classroom (or whatever teaching environment you are in!). One model that speaks to me and the type of education I do as a dietitian, providing nutrition education in the community setting is TPACK.

You may be asking, "What does that even mean?" TPACK stands for Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge. Now, since I'm not a teacher in the traditional sense, nor do I have that traditional classroom full of students, grades K-12 or in higher education, the related words to the acronym still meant...well, not a whole lot to me, to be honest! So after doing some more digging into what this framework meant I came to the understanding that educators can use it to identify the knowledge they need to have about the content they are teaching and how to teach this content effectively with technology. How can an educator fit technology appropriately into their curriculum?

In order to answer this, a teach must be cognizant of the 3 separate knowledge areas within this TPACK framework.   
1) Content - this is what you teach
2) Pedagogy - how will you teach it and how do you engage those you are teaching?
3) Technology - what tools do you need to teach the content effectively?

Take these three categories and you have a visual that looks something like this:

Source: TPACK Diagram

Now, determining where one lands on this spectrum is another matter...
 You could be a "TCK" educator, and know how the content could be enhanced by adding in some type of technology.

Or maybe, you land in the "PCK" section. This would mean that you, the educator, know how to use strategies to teach content (but maybe struggle a bit more with knowing how to use technology effectively). 

If neither of those, you could be the "TPK" educator that knows the various types of technologies available to them and which one (or more) will be most effective to the lesson.

If you look at the middle, where each section overlaps, this is the intersection of pedagogical, technological, and knowledge of the content and THIS is where the innovative learning happens - this is where we should strive to be as educators. 😊

The dotted line around the diagram represents the context in which an educator teaches, and is important to consider its influence on your TPACK knowledge (for example, if you're teaching in a classroom, what resources are going to be available to you there versus at the YMCA for a community education session?).

As I reflect on each of these areas one could fall into, and my own skills as a nutrition educator in different settings - communities, at the hospital, one on one with my patients - I believe that I would fall into that TCK area. I believe I do have a strong background in the nutrition content I teach and I do feel comfortable in using technology to deliver the content. However, sometimes I'm not always quite sure how to effectively use technology to teach the content. Where do you fall in the spectrum?

Want to learn a bit more about TPACK and how you can use it in your curriculum? Head here or watch the YouTube video below, "TPACK in 2 Minutes."