What is it? Domain 3 of the Danielson Framework targets all aspects of instruction in the classroom. A superior teacher is one who makes sure that lessons and expectations are well communicated to every student in the classroom. An impact teacher is one who utilizes proper questioning and discussion techniques as well puts forth a clear effort in making sure that every student is engaged which is essential for learning. Making sure that testing and assessments are a part of instruction and are being used to monitor student progress is key. A teacher who is distinguished is also one who uses with-it-ness in their classroom to predict student behavior and to capitalize on every possible learning moment. Domain 3 encompasses all of these areas of the instruction by providing detailed and descriptive guidelines for educators to align themselves with.
Why do we need it? Domain 3 is important because correctly executed instruction is the backbone of education. The components that make up this domain are essential to the success of a classroom. For starters it reminds educators that every successful classroom depends on successful teacher and student communication. We need this domain because it emphasizes that the goal is not just creative teaching but rather purposeful engagement of students. There are many more reasons why this domain is necessary but I will end wit the fact that it reminds educators that it is not enough to teach for a test. Rather, the goal of education is teaching in order to build schema and tests are merely a tool used to see if we succeeded in meeting that goal. What are the components?
The perspective of a working teacher: One of the educators I spoke with recently gave me some great insight about the importance of Domain 3 and specifically component 3A. This teacher works in an oral deaf, preschool classroom where the students use cochlear implants and hearing aids to access sound. The students in her classroom have low communication skills and a very low vocabulary. She told me that communication is key in all grade levels but especially for preschool and in her case, early childhood special education. Sometimes, in special education teachers have to think outside of the box to ensure that information & expectations can be understood by students. This can be a big obstacle in her class because all the students have difficulty in the area of communication. (Not only when giving information to others, but also receiving information from others.) Because of this she always makes sure to provide information/instruction to her students in several different ways. Deaf students have a deficit in their auditory ability, so they are not able to access this information as easily as a typical student. Making sure that your instruction is given in multiple ways can help them to overcome this deficit. Since many sounds are often distorted (or may be heard in an incomplete manner) presenting the information in multiple ways and repeatedly is crucial. The perspective that this teacher shared with me can apply to students who do not struggle with hearing impairments too. Communication is a universal necessity in education so any tips to help with the implementation of Domain 3 are welcome!
Sources: Danielson Group » The Framework. (2017). Danielsongroup.org. Retrieved 21 September 2017, from http://www.danielsongroup.org/framework/