- How does using protocols like “critical friends” help teachers become more reflective of their teaching practices? I think that critical friends (and other protocols) are so helpful because it's a chance for teachers to really look long and hard at their curriculum and projects and think about the strengths and weaknesses of the design, as well as building in time to see where students are bound to need more support in the future.
- What conditions are required for teachers to make use of this protocol? I think the hardest (but most important) thing about critical friends is being open to feedback. There's no room for defensiveness in a situation like this. I also think schools need to build in time for collaboration like these teachers had. There is clearly a solid community of trust and camaraderie that has been built before the first critical friends protocol ever took place.
- How could this protocol be used with students? I think that this could easily be used with students in upper elementary grades all the way through college. What's important is to provide the necessary scaffolding and to explicitly teach the process so that it is accessible for everyone.
- Identify two specific protocols you will embed in your PBL unit. Consider protocols for teacher-student or student-teacher feedback as well as student-student feedback. For my unit, I used the consensus protocol, the feedback carousel protocol (similar to a gallery walk), and a creating metaphors protocol.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Rachael Le Mee Post #4
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Hi Rachael,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you found the critical friends protocol helpful in providing you with feedback that focused on the specific strengths and weaknesses of your product and I agree with you that the purpose of this protocols and other feedback protocols like this one is to provide support for the work.
Like you I believe that our schools would be stronger if teachers were given time and space for true collaboration with their curriculum. Rather than just swapping plans during the year or downloading materials from a website or repository, imagine the power of teachers being able to workshop their ideas through a critical friends protocol that was ongoing throughout the year. I am also glad you see the possibilities for embedding protocols such as consensus and carousel protocol in your pbl experience.
Sincerely,
Dawn