Examining the Factors Related to the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge Levels of Preservice Social Studies Teachers

Abstract

Technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) is a pedagogical tool that can provide teachers and preservice teachers opportunities to receive enhanced lesson input, engage in classroom interactions, and improve learning outcomes. This study aims at examining the factors related to the TPACK skills of preservice social studies teachers. Participants consisted of 368 preservice teachers studying at the social studies teacher education department of a university located in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey. Participants completed the TPACK scale and personal information form. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way multivariate analysis of variance, and one-way analysis of variance. The results of the study reveal that gender is associated with the preservice teachers' technological knowledge, content knowledge, and pedagogical knowledge; education year is associated with technological knowledge and technological pedagogical knowledge; high school type is correlated with technological knowledge, technological pedagogical knowledge, technological content knowledge, and technological pedagogical and content knowledge; home computer ownership is associated with technological knowledge; and average weekly time spent using a computer is associated with technological knowledge and technological pedagogical and content knowledge. Finally, technical computer skills are correlated with technological knowledge, content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, technological pedagogical knowledge, and technological pedagogical and content knowledge. The current study may contribute to determining culturally specific and cross-cultural correlates of TPACK skills among preservice teachers.