Interactions among PCK Components of Pre-service Secondary Chemistry Teachers Considered in Processes of Making Written Test Items

Abstract

This study investigated the interactions among the PCK components of pre-service secondary chemistry teachers considered in the processes of making written test items individually and in small groups. The processes of making written test items individually for 8 pre-service teachers was studied through the think-aloud method. The analysis of the results revealed that the ‘assessment in science education’ of the five PCK components was most frequently used in making test items. ‘Curriculum for science education,’ ‘subject matter knowledge,’ and ‘students’ were also frequently used although fewer than the previous component. However, ‘instructional strategies and instruction for science education’ was hardly used. The integrations between two or three components with various types were frequently found. However, integrations among four to five components were not found. The processes of making written test items in two small groups consisting of four pre-service teachers were observed. The analysis of the results revealed that the PCK components used in small groups were similar to those in the individual processes. However, ‘curriculum for science education’ was less frequently used, and the numbers of subcategories used at a relatively high frequency increased from other four components in small groups. In the aspects of integration, the proportion of the integrations between two components decreased and that for three components increased compared with those in the individual processes. The integrations among four or five components were also newly found. However, the integrations of ‘curriculum for science education’ with the other components were less frequently found. The integrations of ‘instructional strategies and instruction for science education’ with other components were still hardly found.