Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Science
Education: Difficulties in Organic Chemistry Cover Image
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Педагогическо предметно знание в природонаучното образование: трудности по органична химия
Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Science Education: Difficulties in Organic Chemistry

Author(s): Alexandria Gendjova, Nina Markova, Kalin Chakarov
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Education, School education
Published by: Национално издателство за образование и наука „Аз-буки“
Keywords: pedagogical content knowledge; science education; chemistry education; difficulties in learning; teaching organic chemistry

Summary/Abstract: Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is a critical factor for education quality. This study identifies PCK of students’ difficulties in learning the basics of Organic chemistry, the sources of difficulties and ways to overcome them. An inquiry was conducted with 53 teachers and interviews with prominent teachers. According to the teachers the most difficult areas are “Chemical processes” and “Experiment and research”. The difficulties are due to: specific subject content (formulae, terminology, logic, representation); curriculum; school settings and students’ characteristics (pre-knowledge, motivation, habits, ways of learning and action). The most effective instruction methods are: problem solving, laboratory activities, discourse, demonstration of experiments and models, problem-based learning. PCK of students’ difficulties is related to other elements of the PCK (КSC, KIRS, KAs) and to subject content, pedagogy and context knowledge. Our research findings can help improve the curricula and teaching practice, and to supplement research on specific topics in science education.

  • Issue Year: 94/2022
  • Issue No: 6
  • Page Range: 764-778
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Bulgarian