[IAEP] Group Protocols that support group learning and learning communities

[Caroline Meeks]

One of the topics in my class at HGSE this semester is the use of protocols
to support group work by teachers and administrators in schools.

What is a Protocol?

It took me half the semester to figure this out! It is such a common
practice in schools that apparently nobody bothers to definite it.  It is
basically any predefined series of steps that a group would go through to
work more effectively.  Its a lot like a lesson plan but for groups of adult
peers.

One "Protocol" we are probably all familiar with is "Brainstorming" where
you put up ideas quickly without evaluating them, then as a separate phase
evaluate them.  There are lots of different protocols to facilitate
different sorts of work and to solve different sorts of problems. The kind
of "problems" they might help with are:

   - a few people dominate the conversation;
   - people just repeat what everyone agrees on already and there are no new
   ideas coming out;
   - conflicts are making people uncomfortable and reducing group
   effeciveness;
   - the group talks but there is no work product at the end of the time.


Why do Educators Use Protocols?

We were not explicitly taught this answer, its apparently well enough
estabilshed that no one asks this question anymore.  In the US teachers have
traditionally been isolated in their classrooms doing thier own practice.
Recently there has been an introduction of "common planning time" across
grade levels and often subect based teams but getting a bunch of people who
have always worked alone together in a room doesn't garentee effective
collaboration.  We have used many of these protocols in class.  Once you try
them its pretty easy to be sold that they can be effective then unstrutured
meetings or one person in front with a powerpoint meetings.

Why should we use protocols?


   - We have a lot in common with educators.  We mostly work alone and
   occasionally come together for common planning time.
   - We want educators to learn from our Open Source processes, we should
   model that by learning from them.
   - We want to understand our users, doing things the way they do it is a
   good step.
   - They work. They can be more effective, fun, interesting and  less
   stressful.


How can we use protocols?

First remember its not an all or nothing, its just another option, we don't
have and to use a protocol for everything!

I did my first practice at Olin last week:
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/April_17_Olin_Play_Session

If anyone presenting in Paris would like to try some group protocols to
facilitate group work around thier topic rather then, or in addition to,
doing a stand in front of the room presentation please let me know. I'll
bring my books of protocols and we can see which ones might fit.  I'm very
interested in learning how to do this better and will help facilitate for
anyone interested.


Resources:
Web Site with free protocols :
http://www.nsrfharmony.org/protocol/sitemap.html
Data-Driven Dialogue: A Facilitator's Guide to Collaborative Inquiry -
http://mivasecure.abac.com/miravia1/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=DD&Category_Code=P
The Power of Protocols: An Educator's Guide to Better Practice -
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Protocols-Educators-Better-Practice/dp/0807743615


-- 
Caroline Meeks
Solution Grove
Caroline at SolutionGrove.com

617-500-3488 - Office
505-213-3268 - Fax
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