TPACK stands for Technology Pedagogical Content Knowledge. It is a framework that combines technological knowledge (what tools), pedagogical knowledge (how we teach), and content knowledge (what we teach). This framework can help educators analyze their own knowledge of how to use technology to effectively teach your learners in a specific area (Pacheco-Guffrey, slide 17). In order to effectively integrate technology into each STEM domain, teachers need to be familiar with and utilize the TPACK framework.

There are multiple components within the TPACK model. Here are the 7 components of the TPACK Model:

Content Knowledge (CK)- This is the what. It is the subject matter a teacher teaches.

Pedagogical Knowledge (PK)- This is the how. It is how teachers make the content more accessible for their students.

Technological Knowledge (TK)- This is the tools. It is the technological tools teachers select to make the content more accessible and engaging.

PCK (Pedagogical Content Knowledge)- This is the combined knowledge of your learners, knowledge of your content, and the knowledge of your context. When you put all three of these components together you have PCK.

TPK (Technological Pedagogical Knowledge)- This is the knowledge of how to effectively make the content more accessible using technology.

TCK (Technological Content Knowledge)- This is the knowledge of different kinds of technology and how to use the appropriate technology for specific content areas.

TPACK (Technology Pedagogical Content Knowledge)- This is the sweet spot where all of these areas meet and work together. It is your knowledge of how to use technology to best teach your students in a specific domain. Surrounding all of this is the "Context," or you and your students.

Here you will find an example of a TPACK lesson, or activity a from a larger science unit. This marine animal unit is created for 3rd graders. Throughout these investigations students will compare different ocean habitats, and the marine animals that live there. Students will also explore the changes to ocean habitats and how these changes affect marine animals. Students will develop their own claims to answer the essential questions and provide evidence from several different learning activities to support their claims.

In this particular lesson, students use the Marco Polo Arctic app and the Marco Polo Ocean app in order to compare the marine animals in both of these habitats. This activity uses technology in order to specifically teach third graders about how marine animals are different depending on where they live. The technology used specifically makes the content more accessible for third grade students, and effectively teaches them the content using the two apps.