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: <ul><li>a few people dominate the conversation; </li><li>people just repeat what everyone agrees on already and there are no new ideas coming out; </li><li>conflicts are making people uncomfortable and reducing group effeciveness;</li> <li>the group talks but there is no work product at the end of the time.</li></ul> 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? <ul><li>We have a lot in common with educators. We mostly work alone and occasionally come together for common planning time.</li><li>We want educators to learn from our Open Source processes, we should model that by learning from them.</li> <li>We want to understand our users, doing things the way they do it is a good step.</li><li>They work. They can be more effective, fun, interesting and less stressful.</li></ul> 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: <a href="http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/April_17_Olin_Play_Session">http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/April_17_Olin_Play_Session</a> 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 : <a href="http://www.nsrfharmony.org/protocol/sitemap.html">http://www.nsrfharmony.org/protocol/sitemap.html</a> Data-Driven Dialogue: A Facilitator's Guide to Collaborative Inquiry - <a href="http://mivasecure.abac.com/miravia1/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=DD&Category_Code=P">http://mivasecure.abac.com/miravia1/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=DD&Category_Code=P</a> <h1 style="font-weight: normal;" class="parseasinTitle">The Power of Protocols: An Educator's Guide to Better Practice - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Power-Protocols-Educators-Better-Practice/dp/0807743615">http://www.amazon.com/Power-Protocols-Educators-Better-Practice/dp/0807743615</a> </h1> -- Caroline Meeks Solution Grove Caroline@SolutionGrove.com 617-500-3488 - Office 505-213-3268 - Fax