Quotes, Questions and connections about the book The power of Protocols

By Manisha Sodha

The feel-

Initially I started reading the book with great enthusiasm, but I could not connect much. I had

to re-read to bring the connections, but re-reading was

consuming more time and still connections were very

few. That drooped down my interest. Anyhow, I kept

trying my best, and finally found the strategy to get

connected. I had a glance over all the protocols in

random order. The title that seemed interesting, I first

read the purpose mentioned, then the role of a

facilitator. If it sounded interesting to me I re-read and

made connections. Although I have not finished with

all the protocols, but now I know I will be able to not

finish but learn them soon. Here are some of the

quotes and my connections.

1) Clearing- This is very essential protocol for any

learner, because if ones mind is occupied with the

prior thoughts, the next learning cant take place. I

could connect more with my students in a

different way. As the age group of my children is

very young, they have a very short span of

attention. Even they need more of kinaesthetic

sessions then those of passive sessions. I plan my

sessions keeping this factor in mind but still there

are times when there are 2 to 3 subsequent

sessions which are passive or discussion based. In

this situation I take up a short session of dance or

rhymes or just some physical activity like jumping,

crawling etc. This helps me to CLEAR out their

energy (restlessness) and thus result into the

success of the following session.

2) Pair- share- One more protocol that I could

connect with my practices. Students are given

opportunity to share their experiences or learning.

The purpose of this protocol is to widen the

learning and the ones perspective, but this goal is

not much achieved at my grade level. It serves as

platform to students to enhance their expressive

language and to some extent listening skills.

Exchanging of ideas and learning doesnt happen

much at initial level, but over the period of time

its overcome to some extent.

3) Marvins model: This protocol is something that I

can mellow down to the age group of my students.

It will really facilitate my students to communicate

rapidly on a given topic and that too by following

the rules of turn taking (which is really very

difficult to establish at young age). The

modification that I need to make is that instead of

saying the time 30 seconds Ill have to use

strategy like showing fingers to count the time or

some other that will suit to my learners. It will

even help me to be better in my questioning skills.

4) Jig saw protocol- This protocol will actually help me

to tap upon various abilities of my students, as

they get chance to work in such a situation where

their listening and speaking skills are practiced

along with the exposure to their presentation and

convincing skills. But how to design the session to

begin with a question to be yet answered.

5) Learning from speakers- It actually gave me the

sight that there is nothing wrong in saying with

clear expectation about the purpose of his/her

input as an expert. This must actually followed

because otherwise the purpose of the speaking for

my students learning is only half or partially

served. The speaker can be given a format to

follow. The speaker must follow the key points

such as keep a focus, fostering the listening,

providing the opportunity constructing the

knowledge.

6) Some more protocols that I referred are

Issaquah coaching, constructive learning groups,

Success analysis, new design protocol. As I still

need one more go through so not mentioning over

here .

Some Quotes:-

1) Competent facilitators are in short supply- So

true.

2) Facilitating the protocols involves macro and micro

planning. Macro planning says what protocol to

use in which situation, how to open and close the

meeting where as micro planning talks lot about

the spontaneity on the facilitators side. Once

facilitator can manage to do micro planning s/he

can be considered as Competent facilitator

Question:

A) I can see the chances of using the protocol of

Final word with my students, but how to mellow

it down to the level of my students?