Enhancing Professional Practice, Using the Framework for Teaching in Your School
Book Study #2

This book study provides sound advice, step-by-step procedures, and practical tools for using the Framework. Administrators and teacher leaders will be interested in this study.

Course description:
An in-depth study of the book is intended to offer practitioners—teachers and their supervisors, mentors, coaches, and others - the tools they need to use the framework for teaching productively in different settings and for different purposes.  The instruments and protocols, with their accompanying recommendations for use, may save practitioners valuable time in developing their own procedures.  Educators will examine them and modify them as necessary to suit conditions in their own schools.

Most of the uses of the framework for teaching-teacher preparation, teacher recruitment and hiring, mentoring and induction, professional development, and performance appraisal –can be clustered into two primary functions: coaching and evaluation.  All of these applications require evidence of teaching.  The book study covers the primary purpose for using the framework which is to promote professional learning through self-assessment, reflection practice, and professional conversation.  Regardless of what purpose the framework for teaching is used for or which instruments and procedures are used, participants will find support for two fundamental goals:  evidence-based examination of practice and the professional imperative of promoting teacher learning.    Participants will need to purchase the book prior to the study.

Course requirements:
Read the book The Handbook for Enhancing Professional Practice: Using the Framework for Teaching in Your School by Charlotte Danielson.
Respond to discussion questions as assigned weekly.
Respond to outside readings as assigned weekly.
Respond to participants’ comments as assigned weekly.
     (Students will pass the course if they complete 90% of the responses).

Important information:
Registration deadline:  January 29, 2012
Course begins:  February 5, 2012
Course ends:  March 31, 2012
Cost of course:  There is no cost.  The Department of Education is sponsoring the course.
Graduate credit:  For a cost of $40, participants have the opportunity to register for one graduate credit from USF or Board of Regents (BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSU or USD).

Required book:  The Handbook for Enhancing Professional Practice: Using the Framework for Teaching in Your School by Charlotte Danielson.