Establishing PCK for Teaching Statistics

This report considers the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of 42 teachers selected to be part of a professional learning program in statistics. As part of a profile measuring many aspects of teacher confidence, beliefs, teaching practice, assessment practice, and background, PCK is addressed through responses to student survey items and how the items could be used in the classroom. Rasch analysis is used to obtain a measure of teacher ability in relation to PCK. Based on measured ability, three hierarchical clusters of teacher ability are identified, and the characteristics of each described in terms of the items likely to be achieved. These are exemplified with kidmaps of individual teachers’ performances from each of the three clusters.