Experience Protocols Tools that provide framework for discussions By Claire Dean

Examples 1. Wows and Wonder Protocol 2. Chalk Talk Protocol 3. Reflection and Analysis Protocol

What are protocols? Agreed upon guidelines for a conversation. The existence of a structure which everyone understands and has agreed to. Permit a certain kind of conversation to occur. Allow groups to build trust by actually doing substantive work together.

Why use protocols? The structure makes it safe to ask challenging questions of each other. Build in a space for listening, and often give people a license to listen, without having to continuously respond. A way to make the most of the time people have. The point is not do the protocol well, but to have an in-depth, insightful, conversation about the topic.

Wows and Wonder: Instructions Move into groups of about 4 – 6. Each group must appoint a Presenter, a Facilitator, and a Timekeeper.

Wows and Wonder Protocol Five minutes for the presenter to introduce the work. This includes an explanation to help colleagues understand the context and goal. Include anything else that is relevant. Five minutes of silent examination of the written work. This is an opportunity for the participants to examine the work and jot down notes or questions.

Wows and Wonder… Five minutes for group discussion. Colleagues ask clarifying questions about the work. (These are usually questions that can easily be answered by the presenter.) Five minutes of WOWS. Colleagues comment on the “wows” of the work. What insights were gained? (Presenter is silent and takes notes.)

Wows and Wonder… Ten minutes of WONDERS. Colleagues comment on the “wonders” of the work. What pertinent questions does this bring up? The presenter is silent and takes notes. Five to ten minutes for FEEDBACK. The presenter has time to reflect on what he/she learned. The presenter reflects on how he/she may use the comments and provides feedback.

Wows and Wonder… Five minutes to DEBRIEF in the small group. Participants and presenter reflect on the protocol. What was helpful about the process? What was difficult? How might it be used in other settings?

Wows and Wonder… Summary Five minutes for the presenter to introduce the work. Five minutes of silent examination of the written work. Five minutes for group discussion. Five minutes of WOWS. Ten minutes of WONDERS. Five to ten minutes for feedback. Five minutes to debrief.

2. Chalk Talk Protocol Can be used as a Reflection of a Learning Activity. Facilitator poses a question. "How can I best integrate ICT into an assessment standards-based curriculum?" Participants post their responses on a whiteboard, reading, reflecting what other participants are writing. No one is talking. Debriefing session.

3. Reflection and Analysis Protocol This protocol can be used to analyze a success so that the lessons learned can be applied to future work. In schools, you can use the protocol to examine student work or educator practice. Move into groups of 3. Each group must appoint a Presenter, a Facilitator, and a Timekeeper.

Reflection and Analysis… Step 1: Describe a success (5–8 minutes) Each group member writes a short description of a success, e.g. Successful coaching collaboration that resulted in the improved lesson A description of the collaborative experience and resulting student work The process used to collaborate How the collaboration contributed to the effectiveness of the improved activity.

Reflection and Analysis… Step 2: Presenter describes the success (5 minutes) In triads, the first presenter describes his/her success. The other participants take notes. The facilitator checks to make sure the presenter described that successful coaching collaboration resulted in an improved lesson. Step 3: Group asks clarifying questions (5 minutes) The group asks clarifying questions to help them understand the success

Reflection and Analysis… Step 4: Group reflects on the success (5 minutes) The group discusses what they heard the presenter describing and offers their insights to and analysis of the success. The presenter does not participate in this discussion, but does take notes. Step 5: Presenter responds (3 minutes) The presenter responds to the group’s discussion of what made this collaborative experience so successful and how it might be applied to future work.

Reflection and Analysis… Step 6: Appreciation (1 minute) The group takes time to appreciate the good work done by presenter and describes how this might impact all of their work. Step 7–8: Repeat protocol for the each group member Another group member assumes the role of presenter and repeats steps 2–6.

Reflection and Analysis… Step 9: Debrief protocol in small group (5 minutes) Answer these questions: What contributed to the success of each collaborative experience? How could you repeat this success in the future? How might you use this protocol with other teachers or students in your building? What can you do to improve this process? Step 10: Whole group sharing (5 minutes) Each team picks a reporter to tell the large group what “kernels” of success their group discovered.

Reflection and Analysis…Summary Step 1: Describe a success (5–8 minutes) Step 2: Presenter describes the success (5 minutes) Step 3: Group asks clarifying questions (5 minutes) Step 4: Group reflects on the success: (5 minutes) Step 5: Presenter responds (3 minutes) Step 6: Appreciation (1 minute) Step 7–8: Repeat protocol for the each group member. Step 9: Debrief protocol in small group (5 minutes) Step 10: Whole group sharing (5 minutes)