How often do we engage with subject‑specific CPD as busy science teachers and how often does it genuinely change what we do in the classroom?
In this session, you will explore a practical model for developing subject knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge simultaneously using a learner–practitioner lens. Drawing on real case studies from secondary schools and ITT, we will examine how short, expert explanation videos can be used not as “off‑the‑shelf solutions” but as tools for deliberate professional learning.
You will be guided through how teachers and trainees are supported to:
Watch explanations first as learners to strengthen subject understanding
Revisit them as practitioners to analyse pedagogy, misconceptions, and explanations
Use structured reflection tools, including a CoRe tool, to make tacit expert thinking visible
The session will model reflection activities used in practice and invite you to critically consider how this approach could strengthen subject‑specific CPD in your own context — whether as a classroom teacher, mentor, or subject leader.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Have a greater awareness of the research basis on the merits and challenges of effective subject specific CPD as well as the importance of development subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge to develop expert subject teaching.
Have an awareness of how you can and the benefits of applying a learner–practitioner lens to analyse explanations of challenging science concepts.
Know how to use a CoRe tool to support the development of pedagogical content knowledge for themselves and others
Consider applications for their own education settings ways to design subject‑specific CPD that is embedded, scalable, and sensitive to real‑world constraints.
