Many states are in the process of implementing new teacher evaluation guidelines resulting from (1) federal funding requirements (e.g., Race to the Top), (2) teacher tenure issues, (3) merit pay considerations, and/or (4) an overarching concern about the state of classroom pedagogy. Most school systems have adopted Charlotte Danielson's Frramework as the basis for revising their teacher evaluation process.
Upon reviewing the Danielson Framework, one can readily see connections between many of the components embedded in her teacher evaluation model and H.E.A.T./H.E.A.R.T. The Danielson Model supports both a constructivist approach to teaching and learning as well as 21st Century Skills and Themes. These constructs are also the pillars of H.E.A.T./H.E.A.R.T. As you scan the framework, recursive themes focusing on collaborative learning; engaged learning; and both horizontal and vertical differentiation of resources, instructional practices, and assessment measures permeate the document. In its purest sense, the Danielson Framework is a growth model for improving professional practice.
Using the H.E.A.T. Walkthrough protocol as a way of addressing/reinforcing the critical components of the Danielson Framework provides an efficient mechansim to promote continuous improvement to the teacher evaluation process. To learn a little more about the Danielson Framework, visit the link below for a Q&A segment with Charlotte Danielson on the genesis of her framework.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rick_hess_straight_up/2011/06/straight_up_conversation_teacher_eval_guru_charlotte_danielson.html
