What is High Quality Instruction?
What does it mean for me?
Donna Eustace
Education Technology Consultant
Kentucky Department of Education
1
Let’s Brainstorm…
What is High Quality Instruction?
2
Session outcomes include:
• Establishing an awareness of HQI work
happening at KDE.
• Understanding the 5 Components of HQI
• Reviewing the general characteristics of each
component
• Reflecting on the current work
3
Background
• Partnership with Harvard, KDE and school districts
(Jefferson, Daviess, Boone and Kenton Counties)
• Instructional core
• Coherent vision (Student, Teacher and Content)
4
Assertions (Tony Wagner)
• Student Achievement will not improve unless and until
teaching improves. Higher standards, more testing,
smaller schools, etc. do not, by themselves, improve
teaching.
• Teachers, working alone, with little or no feedback on
their instruction, will not be able to improve
significantly—no matter how much professional
development they receive.
• The challenge of change leadership is to create a
“system” for continuous improvement of instruction,
supervision, and instructional leadership.
5
The factors within the control of districts and schools
that have the most significant impact on student
learning is…
• High-quality instructional practice
• Well-designed curriculum, assessments and
instructional materials aligned to standards
• Strong school leadership
6
"You don't change performance without
changing the instructional core,"
states Anrig Professor Richard Elmore.
"The relationship of the teacher and
the student in the presence of content
must be at the center of efforts to
improve performance."
7
What is the “instructional core”?
8
Why begin with High Quality Instruction?
• As a common point of reference for discussing
effective practices in teaching by describing the roles
of teachers and students
• Allows discussion of HQI around a set of researchbased descriptors of effective classroom practice.
9
5 Components of
High Quality Instruction (HQI)
• Learning Climate
• Classroom Assessment
and Reflection
• Instructional Rigor and
Student Engagement
• Instructional Relevance
• Knowledge of Content
10
Quick thoughts about the definitions
• Read over the definitions of each component (note
your connections, significant words, etc.)
• Share at your tables
• Capture group thinking
• Be ready to share with the entire group
11
Let’s Review a General Template
Characteristics of Each Component
• Read over the general characteristics of the
component assigned to your table (note your
connections, significant words, etc.)
• Share at your tables
• Capture your group’s thinking (may use word)
• Be ready to share with other tables. Determine who
will speak for the group.
12
Examples: Science, Math and Technology
• Descriptions of characteristics
• Resources
13
Suggestions/Concerns?
• Recommendations?
• Next Steps?
• Wiki at http://hqi4edtech.pbworks.com/FrontPage
14
Thank you!
Donna Eustace
Donna.Eustace@education.ky.gov
(502) 564-2106
15