Using TPACK in the classroom

The acronym TPACK stands for Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge, and it is the name of a model whose aim is to combine three central components for our lessons to be effective: technology, pedagogy and content. According to this framework, these aspects are expected to be combined in tasks and activities which will be developed in the classroom.

  

We have designed a didactic unit using the TPACK model to encourage the implementation of technology in the EFL classroom. Our topic included the use of the structures “there is/there are,” with vocabulary related to the different parts of the house and furniture. To start with it, we decided to use a Prezi presentation to show our students a house created in the famous game ‘The Sims’, which included a description of it recorded with our own voice. This functioned as a model for learners to have an idea of what they are expected to do, and to come back to it whenever they need it as they work in the creation and description of an imaginary house.

From: https://shanellecassir.wordpress.com/page/2/

In our didactic sequence, we can see how the three types of knowledge interact in a positive way. Technological knowledge is applied by the use of the computer game, the presentation program Prezi, and the LCD projector to complete the final task. The reason why we chose ‘The Sims’ is that it contains all the vocabulary items we will be working with: parts of the house, furniture and domestic appliances. In this way, we can appreciate how Content knowledge and Technological knowledge mix in only one exercise.

From: http://www.coetail.com/dimac4/2014/11/08/samr-tpack/

Moreover, including a game in our lessons encourages students to participate as they learn while having fun, what is the result of the implementation of Pedagogical knowledge. We consider Prezi the most appropriate software since it allows users to zoom the images in and out, and thus, together with the LCD projector, learners can show their classmates the parts of the house and pieces of furniture they are mentioning. What is more, this online program allows learners to record themselves and to add that to the presentation.

Hence, we can see how Technology, Pedagogy and Knowledge are interconnected in only one unit sequence.

So, English teachers, TPACK can be fun! Do not be afraid of giving it a try!