Differentiated Online Training to Support
Your Implementation of the Danielson Framework  

1: All Staff - Master the Framework

Choose one course to complete to ensure you have a solid understanding of the Danielson Framework for Teaching.

Charlotte Danielson

Course Length: 8.5 hours

Danielson 101

Having a common definition of "good teaching" is imperative if we are to truly understand how to make teaching better. Teacher evaluation expert, Charlotte Danielson, has designed a framework for teaching that is widely used across North America. Her framework provides a common language to describe good teaching and a process for enhancing professional practice that is consistent and transparent. This comprehensive course provides an introduction to each component through the use of online video, classroom examples, scenarios, journal activities and multiple choice assessments for every domain.. Designed and hosted by Charlotte Danielson herself, this course is best suited for someone who is new to the Framework for Teaching.

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Charlotte Danielson

Course Length: 3 hours

Danielson Framework Refresher

If you just need a quick refresher of the 22 components and want to learn directly from teacher evaluation expert, Charlotte Danielson, this course is for you. Through detailed commentary from Charlotte, you will gain a thorough understanding of Domain 1: Planning and Preparation, Domain 2: Classroom Environment, Domain 3: Instruction and Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities. Learn how the components are intertwined and observable in the classroom by hearing how Charlotte explains them and answering a summative multiple choice assessment at the end.

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Charlotte Danielson

Course Length: 4 hours

What’s New 2022? An Overview of the Danielson Framework for Teaching 2022

With a new focus on themes for the whole child, cultural competence and student ownership, the Framework for Teaching (FfT) was updated in 2022. The FfT uses new terminology throughout each domain, component and element. In this course, you will learn the new naming conventions and gain practical insights into each and every domain through expert analysis and classroom videos. Learn what changed in an easy to follow comparison between the 2011 and 2022 versions of the FfT.

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2: Teacher Voice and Choice - Focus on a Component

Differentiated professional learning respects teacher voice and choice. Based on needs and interests, teachers can choose which component(s) to focus on for their own growth plan. These courses are designed to build skills in one component at a time. Hear Charlotte explain the component and analyze classroom videos of real teachers while observing elements and critical attributes. Learn new strategies for improving classroom implementation of each one through videos, articles, reflective writing and discussion boards.

DOMAIN 1:
PLANNING AND PREPARATION

1A: Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy

Many teacher evaluation frameworks assess it but what does “knowledge of content and pedagogy” really mean? See more...

Successful teachers have knowledge of their subject matter and an understanding of how best to teach it. This is a critically important aspect of teaching. Teachers can’t teach things they don’t know! Today, pedagogy is undergoing a significant shift as we look for more effective ways to teach 21st century learners. Throughout this course, you will examine your own knowledge of content and pedagogy and be challenged to think differently about the art and science of teaching.

Course length 3 hours

1B: Understanding your Students

Your students are unique in their interests, needs, skills and learning styles. See more...

In order to differentiate instruction and truly create a student-centered learning environment, it is imperative that teachers really know their students. In this course, you will explore learning styles, multiple intelligences, interest inventories and class profiles. Most importantly, you will be challenged to think about your own classroom as you complete activities that will help you gather knowledge about your own students. You will use the criteria in the Danielson Framework for Teaching to analyze your level of performance in component 1B, Knowledge of Students.

Course length 6 hours

1C: Setting Instructional Outcomes

We teach because we want to cause learning. See more...

That seems obvious, doesn’t it? But setting instructional outcomes requires a conscientious effort to go beyond creating activities to ensure lessons have clear learning goals. In this course, you will learn about the key elements of instructional outcomes and how to organize lessons and units around big ideas and essential understandings. You will also investigate how to involve students in the process so they know what successful learning looks like. By co-constructing success criteria with students, teachers can incorporate “assessment as learning” activities.

Course length 7 hours

1D: Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources

What does it take to demonstrate knowledge of resources? See more...

In this course, you will examine Component 1D in the Danielson Framework, build your inventory of classroom resources and consider ideas for effective integration of technology.

Course length 3 hours

1E: Designing Coherent Instruction

This course will provide learners with research based instructional planning techniques based on the findings of such leading researchers as Charlotte Danielson, Bob Marzano and Jay McTighe. See more...

The course will show the results of research based instructional planning as seen in real classrooms while providing course participants with practical instructional planning tools and templates to facilitate actual classroom implementation.

Course length 7 hours

1F: Designing Student Assessment

Assessment design requires master teachers to consider the various ways to use assessment; assessment for learning, assessment as learning and assessment of learning. See more...

In this course, you will review the elements of assessment design from experts like Charlotte Danielson, Jay McTighe, Rick Stiggins and Grant Wiggins. This 4 hour course will deepen your understanding of formative assessments, demonstrate various assessment strategies and explain how to involve students in the process.

Course length 4.5 hours

DOMAIN 2:
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

2A: Building Respect and Rapport with your Students

LEVELS: Elementay ‐ Middle ‐ Secondary

This course will establish a foundation for creating a classroom of mutual respect, care, and trust between students and teachers. See more...

Participants will explore the qualities that characterize effective, caring teachers and identify the ways in which their beliefs and expectations about teaching and learning can impact the success of their students. We will also explore the teacher’s role of interacting and building relationships with students. Participants will learn how fostering positive relationships with students will help promote enthusiasm and engagement.

Course length 4.5 hours

2B: Establishing a Culture for Learning

In this course, you will learn what it means to have a student centered learning environment. See more...

Key elements are establishing a culture for learning, getting to know your students, providing choices, creating active learning activities and structuring student-centered projects.

Course length 7 hours

2C: Managing Classroom Procedures – Maximizing Instructional Time

Have you ever done the math to calculate how many hours in the day your students spend actively engaged in learning? See more...

Student achievement is impacted directly by having more hours of good quality teaching. Seems obvious, doesn't it?! In this course, you will consider the importance of streamlining your classroom routines and managing student behavior through practical tips and examples.

Course length 6.5 hours

2D: Managing Student Behavior

There is a direct correlation between student behavior and achievement. See more...

In order for students to be able to engage deeply with content, the classroom environment must be orderly. In a productive classroom, standards of conduct are clear to students; they know what they are permitted to do, and what they can expect of their classmates. Even when their behavior is being corrected, students should feel respected. In this course, you will explore key elements of behavior management and examine a positive support system that will help you teach behavior.

Course length 5.5 hours

2E: Organizing the Physical Space

LEVELS: Elementay ‐ Middle ‐ Secondary

Research on the physical classroom environment has shown that the choices you make regarding arrangement can affect the behavior of both students and teachers and that a well-structured classroom tends to improve student academic and behavioral outcomes. See more...

Room preparation and arrangement of materials allows more class time for learning. This course will get you thinking about your classroom environment and how you have organized your physical space.

Course length 4 hours

DOMAIN 3:
INSTRUCTION

3A: Communicating with Students

Often when students recall some of their favorite teachers, they give examples how a teacher was brilliant in explaining content and how expectations for learning and tasks were always very clear. See more...

In this course, you will explore central elements of teacher-student communication; expectations learning, directions and procedures, explanation of content and use of oral and written language. View video examples of real classrooms teachers and gain insight from teacher evaluation expert, Charlotte Danielson.

Course length 4.5 hours

3B: Raising the Rigor with High Level Questioning and Discussion Strategies

Learning theories remind us that the person who is doing the thinking is the person doing the learning. See more...

Are your students truly engaged in challenging activities that require them to think, evaluate, justify and synthesize? This course includes classroom examples, ideas for questioning, a review of Bloom's Taxonomy and a compare/contrast strategy that can be adapted for every grade level. In addition, you will gain insight into your own questioning and discussion techniques.

Course length 7.5 hours

3C: Student Engagement Strategies

Student engagement is not the same as student participation! See more...

Busy students are not necessarily engaged cognitively. This course is designed to provide you with an overview of research based instructional practice that supports engaging students in learning. Student engagement is a central component in every teacher evaluation system and incorporates critical thinking activities and high level questioning strategies.

Course length 5 hours

3D: Using Assessment for Learning

Learn the difference between "assessment for learning" and “assessment of learning”. See more...

This course will deepen your understanding of formative assessments, demonstrate various ways to quickly check for comprehension and explain how to involve students in self-assessing. You will be empowered to take corrective steps in the learning process by using assessments for learning. You will also be guided through the process of selecting the right assessment for each situation. Lastly, you will view excellent examples of teachers in action modeling different assessment strategies.

Course length 6 hours

3E: Flexibility, Responsiveness and Differentiation

A master teacher demonstrates flexibility in her instruction, can make changes on the fly and is responsive to the diverse needs of learners. See more...

In this course, you will examine learning styles and focus on specific strategies for differentiating instruction in your classroom. Learn from top educational experts like Dr. Carol Tomlinson, watch a PD workshop delivered by lead teachers and view classroom examples.

Course length 8.5 hours

DOMAIN 4:
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

4A: Reflecting on Teaching

Teachers face a myriad of daily choices and decisions that need to be made in the midst of a lesson, student discussion or intervention. See more...

Taking time to reflect on these decisions is key to becoming a reflective practitioner. If you believe that all students can learn at a high level and that your performance as a teacher has a direct impact on student learning, than reflection should be an integral part of what you do. In this course, examine questions and principal conferences that ensure you play an active role in your own professional growth.

Course length 2.5 hours

4B: Accurate Records and Data Analysis

Using data is no longer an option for teachers and administrators. See more...

Today, the amount and types of data collected by school systems is larger than ever. But, what do we do with all of this information?..... And more importantly, how will it help us improve student achievement? This course will help you make sense of the large quantity of data that your school collects, including state student achievement results as well as other qualitative and quantitative data.

Course length 5.5 hours

4C: Enhancing Learning with Family Involvement

Effective parent-teacher communication builds working relationships that can support strong home-school collaboration and improved educational outcomes. See more...

Recent changes in school policies and practices--such as the accountability movement, inclusion, and response to intervention--necessitate that all teachers possess effective communication skills for successfully meeting the needs of a diverse student population. In this course, you will learn the central importance of communication strategies that elicit family members' opinions and promote a sense of equality through shared decision making.

Course length 4.5 hours

4D: Teacher Leaders and Professional Learning Communities

This course is designed to support your growth as a teacher leader in your school. See more...

The role of a teacher leader can be initially challenging as you work with new teachers, colleagues and administration. Skills gained in this program will lay a foundation for new leadership skills. By leveraging the power of teacher leaders, you can make a significant impact on school effectiveness and student achievement.

Course length 5 hours

4E: Leveraging Principal-Teacher Conferences to Impact Teacher Effectiveness

Becoming a great teacher requires a constant pursuit of excellence. See more...

Teachers who seek out professional development opportunities and feedback from colleagues and supervisors show their commitment to their profession. In this course, Charlotte Danielson describes component 4E and provides insight into how you can leverage pre and post conferences to impact teacher growth and development.

Course length 4.5 hours

4F: Professional Responsibilities of Distinguished Teachers

Every teacher evaluation system includes at least one component about professionalism. See more...

Students, parents and administrators maintain very high expectations of their staff. This course will provide teachers with insight into their professional responsibilities. Distinguished teachers are reflective practitioners, effective communicators and active in their professional community. This course provides opportunities for reflection and self assessment.

Course length 5 hours

3: Administrator Training

Charlotte Danielson

Course Length: 15 hours

Teacher Evaluation Using the Danielson Framework

For administrators who will be using the Danielson Framework for classroom observation and feedback, this course is an essential. See more...

Learn the fundamentals as Charlotte Danielson walks you through every step of the evaluation process. Gain valuable insight while practicing how to collect evidence, determine performance levels, use artifacts and conduct meaningful teacher conferences. Numerous guided practice opportunities are offered for evaluators to sharpen their skills. Administrators can compare their notes with Charlotte’s to see if they collected the same evidence and reached similar conclusions regarding the levels of performance exhibited in each video. A fair and reliable teacher observation process relies on consistent training of administrators.

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