demonstrating knowledge of
content and pedagogy
What is Component 1a?
Domain 1a of the Danielson Framework emphasizes the importance of a teacher mastering the subject that he wishes to teach on, as well as mastering the methods of teaching. A teacher must not only know how to answer everything his students will ask, related to his subject, but he must also know how to best communicate the subject material with his students so that they can understand it, and have an attitude to appreciate it.
Why is that important?
The principles of Domain 1a are important to a teacher because they are the aspect of the framework that address the actual teaching of the material to the students. These principles are what holds the teacher accountable to being a master of his field, as well as a master teacher, understanding and meeting the needs of his students.
What are the elements in Component 1a?
Domain 1a has three elements associated with it. The first, knowledge of content and structure of the discipline, discusses that a teacher must have a comprehensive understanding of his or her specific field. The teacher must understand the small points that the students must understand before they can understand the whole topic. He must also understand what the students think about the topic, and how that relates to their understanding of it. The teacher also needs to be familiar with similar fields, and understand how those fields are similar to, and different from, his own field.
The second element, knowledge of prerequisite relationships, specifies that the teacher must understand what skills his students need to master before they can continue in the subject that he is trying to teach. In most subjects, one topic cannot be learned before the student understands a concept taught in a prior lesson.
The third element, knowledge of content-related pedagogy, describes a teacher's need to be familiar with many different styles of teaching his subject, then process which ones, or a combination of many, are the most effective in his classroom, and with each individual student.
What are some possible artifacts?
A possible artifact for Element 1 would be the basic knowledge of a given subject. An artifact for the second element would be the knowledge of what needs to be known before the given subject can be taught. An artifact for the third element is the proof that the teacher knows how to effectively communicate his subject to his students.
Danielson, C. (2007). Enhancing professional practice a framework for teaching (2nd ed.). Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Domain 1a of the Danielson Framework emphasizes the importance of a teacher mastering the subject that he wishes to teach on, as well as mastering the methods of teaching. A teacher must not only know how to answer everything his students will ask, related to his subject, but he must also know how to best communicate the subject material with his students so that they can understand it, and have an attitude to appreciate it.
Why is that important?
The principles of Domain 1a are important to a teacher because they are the aspect of the framework that address the actual teaching of the material to the students. These principles are what holds the teacher accountable to being a master of his field, as well as a master teacher, understanding and meeting the needs of his students.
What are the elements in Component 1a?
Domain 1a has three elements associated with it. The first, knowledge of content and structure of the discipline, discusses that a teacher must have a comprehensive understanding of his or her specific field. The teacher must understand the small points that the students must understand before they can understand the whole topic. He must also understand what the students think about the topic, and how that relates to their understanding of it. The teacher also needs to be familiar with similar fields, and understand how those fields are similar to, and different from, his own field.
The second element, knowledge of prerequisite relationships, specifies that the teacher must understand what skills his students need to master before they can continue in the subject that he is trying to teach. In most subjects, one topic cannot be learned before the student understands a concept taught in a prior lesson.
The third element, knowledge of content-related pedagogy, describes a teacher's need to be familiar with many different styles of teaching his subject, then process which ones, or a combination of many, are the most effective in his classroom, and with each individual student.
What are some possible artifacts?
A possible artifact for Element 1 would be the basic knowledge of a given subject. An artifact for the second element would be the knowledge of what needs to be known before the given subject can be taught. An artifact for the third element is the proof that the teacher knows how to effectively communicate his subject to his students.
Danielson, C. (2007). Enhancing professional practice a framework for teaching (2nd ed.). Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.