TPACK learning paths of pre-service teachers

Pre-service teachers (PST) need subject-specific, didactic and pedagogical knowledge for their future teaching practice, commonly described within the TPACK framework. The ‘Digital Competence Framework for Educators’ (DigCompEdu) emphasizes the importance of technical and digital skills for teachers in general. One way to address relevant knowledge facets for PST is through game development-based learning, which includes designing digital escape games. Yet, questions remain about which knowledge facets PST activate when designing a digital mathematical escape game (DIMEG) and how this develops throughout the design process. In this study, one group of primary school PST designs a DIMEG within a seminar. Each seminar session was videotaped, transcribed and coded towards TPACK knowledge facets. Findings from this study show that all knowledge facets were activated, except TCK, suggesting that DIMEG is a promising approach for teacher education.