Abstract

Science teaching has been called to contribute to citizenship insofar as it requires scientific competencies such as articulating theory and evidence, and the critical evaluation of different points of view. To promote argumentation in science teaching is key but not simple and requires teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of argumentation. International literature has reported low PCK of argumentation in science teachers, but we scarcely know about this in Spanish speaking countries. This paper reports a study aimed at describing the PCK of argumentation on 10 primary science teachers in Chile. Lessons were video recorded, and interviews were conducted. Results show low PCK of argumentation overall, and declarative PCK does not necessarily relates with procedimental PCK. Moreover, different configurations of the dimensions of PCK of argumentation were observed, suggesting that there is not one possible learning progression, but different ones. Educational and scientific implications are discussed.