Developing pedagogical content knowledge for the new sciences: The example of biotechnology

Abstract

Biotechnology is an expanding area of scientific and community interest, one that it is important students understand because of its potential to impact on them and their communities. The issue for teachers and science and technology educators is how to provide learning experiences in this area. This paper draws on classroom‐based research to describe the challenges teachers face and the successes they can achieve when teaching an interdisciplinary subject such as biotechnology. It describes the components of pedagogical content knowledge that teachers require to teach such a subject and highlights planning strategies to enhance teachers' PCK and subsequent classroom interactions. Evidence is provided that biotechnology engages student interest and that students can develop an understanding of the nature of biotechnology and associated conceptual and procedural learning outcomes.