Professional Development With Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)®
Help teachers deliver effective lessons that can significantly improve achievement for all learners, including English language learners and students with special needs.
USC Rossier School of Education is one of the graduate schools of the University of Southern California
What Is Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)® ?
EDI® was developed by Dataworks founders, Dr. Silvia Ybarra and John Hollingsworth. EDI® focuses on improving education at the lesson level by incorporating a strategic collection of instructional practices from the work of educational and cognitive researchers such as Hattie, Rosenshine, Hunter, Sousa, and Marzano. When all of the research is combined, you get EDI®.
The extensive classroom experience of the Dataworks founders and staff has proven that direct instruction is more effective and efficient, especially for struggling students and English learners.
In fact, there is overwhelming research supporting teacher-led, explicit, direct instruction. Dataworks built upon this approach, developing and refining our own specific version of direct instruction, called Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)®.
Does Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)® Work For Common Core?
With the adoption of the Common Core State Standards, the Dataworks’ EDI® approach to teaching has become more relevant than ever before. The EDI® collection of research-based strategies include 75% of the shifts to Common Core, such as text-based lessons, text-based answers, academic and content vocabulary, strong concepts as well as skills, and real-world connections.
In addition, EDI® Lessons and Lesson Design training have evolved to include more expository text, more application problems, Common Core learning objectives, and Access Common Core questions that utilize the new types of assessments. Common Core is the destination that many schools are aiming for, and EDI® is continuing to be an effective vehicle for getting there.
About Dataworks Methodology
Instruction should be a dialog that’s interactive and engaging; so students are given the opportunity to demonstrate what they are learning and teachers make instructional decisions based on the students’ responses.
We are not waiting for test results, but instead, making academic corrections to ensure the success of the lesson and ultimately releasing the students to independent practices.
What Does Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)® Training Cover?
Our trainers will provide coaching and feedback for the strategies covered in the workshop and participants will be asked to practice in small groups. This leads to increased teacher retention for the following:
Brain Research
Dataworks provides an overview of brain research. We explain how the human brain learns and stores information. This helps teachers understand the importance of the lesson delivery strategies in Explicit Direct Instruction EDI® .
Engagement Norms
Practice with Student Engagement Norms. Dataworks Engagement Norms are used in thousands of classrooms around the world because they work. They include eight strategies that keep students engaged and actively participating in every lesson.
Checking for Understanding
Most teachers know how to ask questions and call on students for responses. But are teachers asking the right questions to the right students? EDI® has simple tips to help teachers ask powerful, probing questions to non-volunteers that will change the culture of the classroom and accurately assess learning in real-time.
Lesson Design Components
Create a culture of instructional excellence by providing common procedures for lessons. We cover the critical components of the Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)® lesson design; learning objective, activate prior knowledge, concept development, sill development with guided practice, relevance, and closure.
EDI has been a huge part of our success. We took Datawork’s ideas and training and took ownership of them and continued to build teacher competence. EDI provided a common language for instruction and very clear steps for students to learn. EDI is our instructional method, but also the base of our PLCs and RTIs.
Create The Foundation for Teaching Excellence
Explicit Direct Instruction® helps all students. Read our whitepaper to learn about the difference between Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)® vs. traditional Direct Instruction.
Before Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI), our school was a ship adrift at sea with everyone rowing in different directions. EDI has provided us with a framework for instruction and a common language that allowed us to all row in the same direction. By doing so, we exited program improvement within the first two years of implementation, after having been in sanctions for the previous ten years. Additionally, using the framework and common language of EDI we were named a honor roll school by the Educational Results Partnership
Core Concepts for Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)®
Checking for Understanding (CFU)
There are checking for understanding questions directly on the slides so teachers can make sure students are learning. If students can’t answer the question, reteach that slide.
Whiteboard Questions
The questions are set up for whiteboard responses so teachers can see all student answers.
Complete Sentences
Have the students answer in complete sentences using academic language.
Periodic Review
The lessons include periodic review so students will retain the information.
Pronounce With Me
Have students practice harder to read words in the lesson.
Choral Reading
Have the students chorally read the key information on the page.
Non-Volunteers
Call on non-volunteers to make sure everyone is learning.
Rule of Two
The lessons provide match problems so the teacher can work one and the students can work the other. Teacher works one question, the student works the other.
Pair Share
All students answer every question using academic language.
Sentence Frames
Questions include a sentence frame to ask the kids to answer in complete sentences using academic language.
How Does EDI® Help Students?
Explicit direct instruction (EDI) is a teaching method that benefits students by providing clear learning objectives, breaking down complex concepts, and giving step-by-step guidance.
It engages students actively, offers direct teaching, and offers immediate feedback.
EDI builds skills, addresses learning gaps, boosts confidence, and teaches transferable skills. It’s efficient, focused, and helps students succeed across subjects.
Is EDI® Training Necessary?
EDI can be particularly beneficial for students who need clear structure, guidance, and practice in mastering foundational skills. It’s effective for addressing learning gaps, building confidence, and improving student outcomes.
When To Deploy EDI® Training
It’s effective, evidence-based, and can be useful for new teachers, initial instruction, school reform, and maintaining accountability.
EDI keeps students engaged throughout the lesson! It gives students the opportunity to speak and listen to each other during the lesson. Students discuss vocabulary and read aloud during EDI which gives them practice in Reading, Speaking, Listening, and Writing. Students do all the work during a lesson! Pair-Share is a great strategy to help English Learners with speaking and practicing the vocabulary!
Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI)® Videos
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dataworksed
EDI® Resources and Related Articles
Differentiation And Scaffolding With Explicit Direct Instruction®