Assessment of pre- service elementary science teachers? pedagogical content knowledge regarding the structure of matter

The purpose of this research is to assess pre-service science teachers? pedagogical content knowledge regarding the structure of matter.The sample of this study in which case study research method was used consisted of 5 elementary pre-service science teachers who are enrolled at Gazi University in the Department of Elementary Science Education senior class in 2007 ? 2008. While chosing the participants, a subject matter knowledge test about structure of matter was administered to 40 pre-service teachers. According to the test results, pre-service teachers having different knowledge levels were chosen to participate in this study to reveal different dimensions of the research problem.Data was collected via observations, interviews and document analysis methods regarding the sub-problems created at the begining of the research. Transcriptions of the semi?structured interviews and videotaped lessons were analyzed by coding the data considering the different dimensions of the pedagogical content knowledge.The findings of the study showed that subject matter knowledge is necessary for pedagocigal content knowledge but, pedagogical content knowledge involves many subcategories such as, pedagogical knowledge, knowledge of students? understanding of science, knowledge of science curriculum, knowledge of assessment, knowledge of instructional strategies. Also, pre-service science teachers who have science teaching experience have better pedagogical content knowledge. This shows, experience is an integral part of pedagogical content knowledge development.