The Power of Protocols

“This is one of a handful of books that I keep right on my desk.” —Kathryn Boudett, Harvard Graduate School of Education

The use of protocols has quickly spread from conferences and workshops to everyday school and university settings. Now in its third edition, this popular bestseller features substantial updates that take into account recent developments in the field of facilitative leadership. The authors have also added 11 totally new protocols, including the “Peer Review Protocol” and “Looking at Student Work with Equity in Mind.” This essential teaching and professional development tool includes:

• Step-by-step descriptions of how educators can use protocols to study together, work on problems of practice, teach well, and explore students’ work.
• Explanations of the particular purpose for each protocol, discussions of the value that educators have found in using them, and helpful tips for facilitators.
• A free supplement on the Teachers College Press website of “Abbreviated Protocols” that can be downloaded and customized to suit each facilitator’s needs.

PRAISE FOR THE POWER OF PROTOCOLS!

"I found the idea of protocols and their suggested application to be well conceived and articulated by the authors." — NASSP Bulletin

"I deeply appreciate the way this guide helped to enlarge my understanding of protocols and deepen my sense of their efficiency in teaching practice." —Horace, Quarterly Journal of CES

Joseph P. McDonald is professor of Teaching and Learning at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The late Nancy Mohr was director of the New York Center of the National School Reform Faculty. Alan Dichter is a consultant on school leadership and change, and formerly local instructional superintendent in New York City and director of leadership development in the Portland, Oregon, public schools. Elizabeth C. McDonald is a master teacher in the Department of Teaching and Learning at New York University’s Steinhardt School and a former elementary school principal.

“This is one of a handful of books that I keep right on my desk.”
—Kathryn Boudett, Harvard Graduate School of Education

“My practice is continuously strengthened by The Power of Protocols. This book will enlarge your thinking about how protocols can help you with change management and issues of equity.”
—Bena Kallick, The Institute for Habits of Mind

Table of Contents

Preface to the Third Edition

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Basic Practices
   Learning Through Constraints 
   Educating Ourselves
   Learning from Close Textual Analysis
   Practicing Transparency
   What the Research Says

Chapter 2. Facilitating
   Significance of the Facilitator's Core Tasks
   The Facilitator's Moves
   Brief Protocols
   Postcards
   All-Purpose Go-Round 
   Clearing
   Pair-Share
   Reflection on a Word
   Longer Openers
   Fears and Hopes
   Protocol for Setting Norms
   Provocative Prompts
   Marvin's Model

Chapter 3. Working on Practice
   Tuning Protocol
   Consultancy
   Descriptive Consultancy
   Issaquah Coaching Protocol
   Peeling the Onion
   Success Analysis Protocol
   Stuff and Vision Protocol
   Peer Review Protocol (Online)

Chapter 4. Working for Change
   What Comes Up
   Standards in Practice
   Minnesota Slice
   Shadow Protocol
   Do What You Mean to Do
   New Design Protocol
   School Visit Protocol
   What Do We Know? What Do We Suspect? What Do We Need to Find Out?

Chapter 5. Working with Texts
   Collaborative Assessment Conference
   Final Word
   Jigsaw Protocol
   Panel Protocol
   Mars/Venus Protocol
   Text Rendering Protocol (Video Version)
   Art Feedback Protocols
   Rich Text Protocol

Chapter 6. Working Toward Equity
   Diversity Rounds
   Constructivist Listening Dyad
   Cosmopolitan Protocol
   The Paseo or Circles of Identity
   Looking at Data Protocol
   Equity Protocol
   Looking at Student Work (with Equity in Mind)

Conclusion: Jumping In
   Ways to Get Started
   Things That Make It Easier

References

Index

About the Authors

Protocols