Pedagogical Knowledge

Abstract

Pedagogical knowledge (PK) is a term used for knowledge of how to teach that is applicable0 across a range of teaching areas. The term general0 pedagogical knowledge (GPK) is sometimes used as a synonym so that a distinction can be made between knowledge of how to teach generally and knowledge of how to teach a particular subject0 area which is usually referred to as pedagogical0 content knowledge (PCK). Shulman (1987) described seven types of teacher knowledge: content knowledge, general pedagogical knowledge,0 curriculum knowledge, pedagogical content 0 knowledge, knowledge of learners, knowledge of0 educational contexts, and knowledge of educational0 aims, purposes, and values. General pedagogical knowledge (GPK) is described as “those broad principals and strategies of classroom management and organisation that appear to transcend subject matter” (Shulman 1987, p. 8). Some writers have used each of the knowledge types described by Shulman separately in describing teachers’ work, while others have used different amalgams of the types so that teachers’ work can be seen more holistically. The relationship of GPK to other knowledge types is of interest.