Pedagogical Knowledge Among Early-Career Undergraduate Instructors: Qualitative Variation, Longitudinal Development,...

Area of Science:

• STEM Higher Education
• Educational Psychology
• Life Sciences Pedagogy

Background:

• Active learning strategies can improve student outcomes in STEM higher education.
• Instructor pedagogical knowledge significantly influences active learning effectiveness.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the development of instructors' pedagogical knowledge and its impact on active learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the variation and development of pedagogical knowledge among undergraduate life sciences instructors.
• To understand how instructors' pedagogical knowledge influences active learning implementation.
• To explore the connection between pedagogical knowledge and cognitive engagement frameworks like ICAP.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal qualitative study involving 11 early-career undergraduate life sciences instructors.
• Semistructured interviews with stimulated recall to capture pedagogical knowledge during lesson planning, implementation, and reflection.
• Qualitative content analysis using the ICAP framework to assess alignment with passive, active, and generative cognitive engagement.

Main Results:

• Instructors' pedagogical knowledge varied, and teaching experience did not consistently lead to development aligned with generative cognitive engagement.
• Case studies demonstrated how evolving pedagogical knowledge impacts the design and implementation of active learning.
• Development of pedagogical knowledge is crucial for effective active learning, beyond mere teaching experience.

Conclusions:

• Teaching experience is necessary but insufficient for developing the pedagogical knowledge required for effective active learning.
• Further research is needed on mechanisms fostering pedagogical knowledge development in instructors.
• Instructional implications suggest a need for targeted professional development to enhance instructors' pedagogical knowledge for active learning.