EduProtocols

What is a protocol?

In education, a protocol is a structured process that a group of people will follow to solve a dilemma, look at student work, goal setting, tuning, or myriad of other reasons. It is a tool to use to facilitate the conversation around some issue. The presenter is (usually) pulled out of the process once they present and answer clarifying questions. The focus will then move to the other participants to dig deeply into what has been presented. Finally, there is always a reflection at the end as a debrief for how the process went. Here are some great protocols for educators to use in their own work: School Reform Initiative (SRI) and Liberating Structures.

Why use protocols with students?

One word: STRUCTURE.

Ok, I'll elaborate. Protocols help establish routine. When I know that I am going to be doing an Issaquah Protocol,then I know exactly what to expect. I know what I am going to be doing and for how long. Transitions are quick and explanations are short. 

All of the protocols found at both SRI and Liberating Structures can be adapted to use with students with any content. However, Marlena Hebern and Jon Corippo have already done the work with their EduProtocols. They describe EduProtocols as lesson frames-use the same task but different content. These can be used in any grade and any content area.

Resources to use EduProtocols

Buy the books. But then you want to dig into these resources. Stephanie Howell from Pennsylvania has done some amazing work and a serious deep dive into the protocols. 

Here is a playlist of some of the videos that she created. I have also placed them below.