Purpose
Modified from the School Reform Initiative protocols, this protocol supports education-focused participants to propose and host dialogues within small groups. The dialogue for this symposium invites peer consultation and critical reflection on the moral purpose in education by drawing on relevant academic research, empirical evidence, theoretical frameworks, and/ or professional experiences. The protocol is a framework to support active listening and engagement with others, to consider new perspectives and questions, and to develop a clear sense of direction and shared purpose through critical reflection on leading professional learning.
Total Time
25 minutes
Roles
- Host (the person sharing their reflections and posing a question(s) for the group)
- Facilitator (who keeps time, ensures use of the protocol, guides and participates in the conversation)
- Consultants (other participants in the group)
Process
- Sharing Context, Focus, and Goals in the Reflection (5 minutes)
The Host provides a brief overview of the context and the focus of their reflections on the moral purpose in education, by drawing on relevant academic research, empirical evidence, theoretical frameworks, and/ or professional experiences. The Host also describes the goals for their inquiry and how the dialogue feedback may help them think in new ways about the topic shared. The Consultants/ other participants actively listen at this stage. The Host does not yet pose any questions for the group until step 3. - Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)
Consultants/participants may ask clarifying questions to gain more information and clarity on the reflections the host shared in step 1. The goal of these questions is for the consultants to gain sufficient understanding to be able to provide helpful feedback and perspectives to the dialogue Host.
- Framing and Posing Reflective Questions (3 minutes)
The Host may share additional information from research and/ or practice and then will pose some reflective question(s) for discussion.
A pause is provided for the Consultants to examine the relevant information or materials (e.g., handouts) shared by the Host and how they relate to the question(s) posed. For example, Consultants might consider:- What have we heard?
- What did we find within the data?
- What might not be relevant?
- What questions have been raised for us?
- What haven’t we considered/thought about?
- What might be the purpose of the questions posed based on what we heard?
- What is the purpose of the overarching goal?
- Discussion (10 minutes)
Consultants review and discuss the research, data, theory, and/or professional experiences shared by the Host and the questions posed. The group conversation should be focused on helping the Host work toward their goals. After analyzing the questions posed by the Host, the group will work to define a plan, categorize or reframe issues, and offer alternative strategies. Through this discussion and feedback, Consultants will gain new insights, perspectives, and questions to take back with them as they continue their inquiry.
- Reflection by Host (4 minutes)
The Host verbally reviews what he or she learned based on the problem-solving session and discussion. S/he shares anything that may have resonated during any part of the process, taking the time to explore any further new and/or interesting ideas that arose.