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The TPACK Framework

How is student engagement and motivation increased through the TPACK

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TPACK


Technology, pedagogy and content knowledge (TPACK), when used well together, can ensure a high level of engagement and motivation in students. Each by themselves is not quite enough. Technology provides the tools, pedagogy provides the teaching techniques, and content knowledge provides the concepts or what to teach. When all three are incorporated thoughtfully into a lesson or unit of study, our students will want to learn and can’t help but succeed.

Technology (the T in TPACK) plays a supporting and highly motivating role in my classroom. I choose to incorporate more technology in my lesson plans because my digital native students are so in tune to any form of technology. Not only does it motivate my students but it also reinforces the content knowledge and pedagogy. From using their own smart phones as stopwatches and calculators during labs, to answering questions with clickers, to collaborating through Google Docs at home, to creating multimedia presentations to demonstrate what they have learned, my students never fail to sit a little taller and focus a little more intensely on the assignment at hand when technology is involved.

Proper pedagogy (the P in TPACK) is important in maintaining that engagement and motivation too.  Inquiry style lessons promote critical thinking as the content knowledge is gained and technology can assist the process if used wisely. Digital worksheets are not the best use of technology from a pedagogical point of view and frankly, students find them just as boring as paper worksheets. Students need to use the tools to further their research in solving problems creatively and collaboratively.

The content knowledge  (the CK in TPACK) can be gained in a meaningful and motivating way when the proper pedagogy and use of technology are employed. All three components are necessary to create the most valuable learning environment for students today.

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