Framework of Effective Instruction (FEI)Module 3

60 mins.

You ARE the effective educator…BE the effective educator.

https://youtu.be/fLDp2OePLzM

Framework of Effective Instruction

The Framework of Effective Instruction is used to promote and support teachers in refining their craft for “effectiveness”.

It provides concrete guidance to teachers on analyzing their practice to better support students’ diverse needs.

There are 6 components in the FEI• Knowledge of Learners• Instructional Planning• Instructional Delivery• Engagement• Assessment• Learning Environment

FEI Components Knowledge of LearnersTeachers acquire and use a considerable amount of information regarding students and fuse this knowledge with content and pedagogy to deliver instruction that meets the various needs of students.

Instructional PlanningThe process a teacher engages in while planning and structuring learning activities to meet the needs of all students using the state’s standards, the school’s curriculum, data, and engaging in appropriate strategies and resources.

Instructional Delivery & EngagementInstructional delivery refers to a teacher’s use of a variety of research-based instructional strategies relevant to the content area to engage students in active learning, promote key skills, and meet individual learning needs.

AssessmentAssessment refers to the process in which a teacher systematically gathers, analyses, and uses relevant student data to measure student progress, guide instructional content and delivery methods, and provide timely feedback to students, parents, and stakeholders.

Learning EnvironmentLearning environment refers to a teacher’s abilities in governing the conditions, circumstances, and influences in the classroom that surround and effect the development and performance of students.

FEI Descriptors

Each FEI component is accompanied with a list of behaviors/actions that are referred to as “descriptors”.

The descriptors provide a detailed action/behavior that a teacher can practice to become more refined and proficient in the respective FEI component.

FEI Component: Knowledge of Learners

Acquiring knowledge about students will typically fall into two domains.

Meeting Students’ Developmental and Learning Needs

Providing Range of Complex, Differentiated Activities

Meeting Students’ Developmental and Learning Needs

Teachers must know not only their subject content and its related pedagogy but the students to whom they wish to teach that content.

An effective teacher understands that taking time to develop relationships with students pays off in the end.

The effective teacher has an awareness and appreciation for the different developmental needs of students and acquires much-needed information of students’ backgrounds by administering student interest surveys.

Student interests are taken into consideration when the teacher plans learning activities.

The effective teacher also promotes student involvement in the learning process by encouraging students to be aware of their individual academic levels and to make learning choices that will provide a challenge.

Providing Range of Complex, Differentiated Activities

Effective teachers use interest inventories and surveys to not only find out more about their students, but they also plan instruction around these interests.

Effective teachers design lessons that include multiple types of learning and modalities and such lessons enhance a student's strengths

Instructional strategies are changed to meet the needs of the learners by changing the delivery of the content, as well as adding in more sensory experiences.

Effective teachers lead through inquiry learning in which questions drive the instruction and students construct meaning to those questions.

Much of the teacher’s time is spent sifting through data about their students and using information in designing lessons and communicating with students.

These teachers take time to learn more about the diverse learners in their classroom by talking with parents, elders, reading, researching, and more.

Knowledge of LearnersComplete the phrase below by personalizing it based on your own experiences:

• Some of the ways that I acquire knowledge of my students is by__________________________________________. I use this knowledge in planning and delivering lessons, and communicating with my students specifically by (specific examples required) _______________________________________________.

FEI Component: Instructional Planning

The elements that are involved in effectively planning for instruction will typically fall into 5 domains.

Three Key Questions

Focusing on Instruction

Optimizing Instructional Time

Setting Learning Objectives

Using Student Learning Data

Three Key Questions

What should be taught?Effective teachers utilize a mental blueprint of every lesson and ensures that outcomes are explicitly included in the lesson and communicated to students.

How should it be taught?Effective teachers should also be prepared to address the needs of learners who may encounter difficulty in encountering the content; how will instruction be modified and how will skills and concepts be modified and retaught to ensure that all learners can access the content.

How do we know if students learn what we taught?Effective teachers must be prepared to evaluate the instructional plan and the resources that will be used and make essential modifications to allow an equal opportunity for learners to grasp the content and demonstrate their level of comprehension and mastery.

Focusing on Instruction

The effective teacher recognizes academic instruction as central to his or her role and this focus guides the teacher’s own planning and classroom behavior and clearly conveys to student that instruction is the major element in a robust learning environment.

Effective teachers ensure that there are appropriate opening and closing activities for a successful lesson.

Effective teachers value lesson closures and they are unrushed: reinforcing what has been learned and assessing student learning, meanwhile revising the lesson’s objectives.

Optimizing Instructional TimeEffective teachers manage to maximize instruction by their thoughtful and careful use of time; having materials organized for activities or unpredictable occurrences, establishing classroom procedures and patterns, using routines consistently.

By sharing with students how they organize time, effective teachers can serve as a model for students to assist in their own planning.

Pacing allows teachers to see the curriculum in its entirety and avoid overemphasizing or underemphasizing one area of content.

Effective teachers take advantage of common planning time to discuss lesson plans and to develop a collective approach to instruction; promoting joint expectations and common goals.

Setting Learning Objectives

Having an objective aids in identifying a focus, maintaining a focus, and evaluating the focus.

The objectives set the direction for teaching and these objectives should be communicated to the students and reinforced as the instruction progresses.

Using Student Learning Data

When teachers view data as an essential part of creating a well-designed and meaningful

lesson, effective teachers increase the opportunity for

students’ needs to be met as they engage in the lesson.

The various forms of data provide for a more informed teacher who is prepared to provided differentiation to

promote student achievement.

Ponder…How can I ensure that I

plan student-centered lessons?

FEI Component: Instructional Delivery & Engagement

The elements that are involved in effectivelydelivering instruction in an engaging way will typically fall into 5 domains.

Using a Variety of Instructional Strategies

Differentiating Instruction

Communicating High Expectations

Promoting Complex and Higher-Order Thinking

Using High-Quality Questioning

Supporting Student Engagement in Learning

Using a Variety of Instructional Strategies

When effective teachers employ a variety of instructional strategies during instruction, it increases students’ level of interest and engagement and makes being involved in the learning process an exercise that is tailored specifically to their unique needs.

Differentiating Instruction

During instructional delivery, effective teachers should frequently modify instruction as needed and provide scaffolded challenges to promote critical and complex thinking.

Communicating High Expectations

One way to promote student and parental involvement in the learning environment is through communicating information.

Information should be clearly and explicitly communicated to parents and students because this practice creates a culture of open and 2-way line of communication.

Promoting Complex and Higher-Order Thinking

Complex and higher order thinking is promoted when teachers design activities that provide a challenge but with scaffolds. In an environment as such, learners would be free to explore and learn from mistakes; a practice that promotes innovative and creative thinking. Facilitator may read or have a volunteer to read any of the bullets on slide to emphasize point made.

Using High-Quality Questioning

Strategic questioning engages students in higher order thinking, encourages students to have different perspectives, and should be posed with the expectation for students to thoroughly and accurately respond.

Supporting Student Engagement in Learning

Effective teachers are aware of students’ levels of engagement and they employ specific measures to increase student engagement. Effective teachers acknowledge student effort, provide positive reinforcement and explicit feedback as they are presented with stimulating activities.

Like It…• “Like” the questions that promote complex thinking

• “Unlike” the questions that do not promote complex thinking

1. Who attended the Presidential Inauguration in 1985? __________

2. How does this relate to daily occurrences? ____________

3. What do you think the author is trying to accomplish?__________

4. Where was Sandra at the beginning of the story? _______

5. How would you agree or disagree with this? __________