More than high, medium, and low: Pre-service teacher TPACK profiles and intentions to teach with technology

Using pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) technological, pedagogical, content knowledge (TPACK) survey responses, this study’s cluster analysis identified five distinct learning profiles: Pedagogical Content Knowledge Specialists, Technological Forerunners, Pedagogically Minded, Balanced Integrators, and TPACK Lingerers. Instead of using a single timepoint or a single TPACK domain for identifying high or low PST clusters, this study identified five distinct TPACK clusters by analyzing TPACK perception scores before and after a technology integration course. MANOVA, ANOVA, t-tests, and Chi-square tests were then employed to further examine how TPACK domains changed within and between clusters. The MANOVA results indicated that the five profiles exhibited distinct learning trajectories, and the Chi-square results confirmed that cluster membership was independent of PST's programs and majors. After completing the course, all profiles significantly improved their technological knowledge and technological content knowledge, yet only the Technological Forerunner and Pedagogically Minded profiles significantly increased self-perceptions in all TPACK domains. The study furthermore examined the relationship between the TPACK clusters and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) variables, and results revealed significant differences across learner groups in TAM after taking the technology integration course. The profiles in this study present fine-grained patterns of technology integration development that may inform future TPACK/TAM research, application of cluster analysis methods, and the design of technology integration coursework.