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Connections

the Journal of the National School Reform Faculty

Spring 2010

Book Review

By Dave Lehman

“The Power of Protocols: An Educator’s Guide to Better Practice”2nd Edition
ByJoseph McDonald, Nancy Mohr, Alan Dichter, and Elisabeth McDonald

Teachers College Press, Columbia University., 2007

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 on the staff of the New York City Leadership Academy and is a former New York City Deputy Superintendent for School Reform and Leadership Development. 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 updated, Second Edition of The Power of Protocols is a must for anyone facilitating a CFG, and particularly for those beginning any professional development activities. It is usefully organized into five chapters – 1) The Basic Ideas, which explains what protocols are, why they’re needed, and how “facilitative leadership” works; 2) Facilitating, with advice, step-by-step activities, and an introduction to the format for using protocols; 3) Tapping Outside Sources, with protocols on how to explore others’ writings and advice from outside “experts;” 4) Working on Problems of Practice, including protocols for problem-solving, planning, and other kinds of on-the-job learning, using artifacts and experiences from teachers’ own practice; and 5) Exploring Student Work, from many different perspectives – with a concluding section: Jumping In; and two Appendices: Suggested Uses for Protocols, and Additional Resources; a section on References; and a quick-guide Index.

The authors, all steeped in professional development and CFG facilitating, emphasize that “at its heart, facilitating is about promoting participation, ensuring equity, and building trust.” They go on to note that “…protocols are deliberately designed with these tasks in mind, while most other meeting formats are rife with opportunities for ignoring them.” We are all too familiar with the faculty “meeting” where the Principal delivers a monologue while staff grade papers and check their e-mail, or the “discussion” in which two or three staff typically dominate and others tune-out. Protocols are designed to meaningfully engage all members of a faculty, to hear all voices, and to address real issues in collaborative, productive processes.

Lastly, in the back of the book, on a page which might be easily overlooked (although there is mention of this in the Preface), is a valuable reference to “FREE Abbreviated Protocols” on-line. These are “…designed to be used after you have read the full descriptions in the book. They are not designed to be used as stand-alone guides, nor do they contain all the information necessary to successfully conduct a session.” Readers are encouraged to “customize” these to suit their own professional staff development needs, adding notes, varying the times, adding or deleting steps, and posing provocative questions, making them useful to each facilitator’s own context. You can find them at www.tcpress.com where there is a list of Teachers College Press books. Scroll down to The Power of Protocols, and simply click there on the word “Protocols.”

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Contacts

Leslie Burns, NSRF Office Coordinator, lburns@harmonyschool.org 812-330-2701

Scott Hutchinson, NSRF Development and Outreach, hutchinson@harmonyschool.org, 812-330-2701

Michele Mattoon, NSRF Director, michelemattoon@comcast.net

Thank you for your support and attention. If you have any news, stories, resources or ideas for these Updates from the National Center, please let us know.

On behalf of the NSRF National Center,
Dave, Leslie, Michele, and Scott
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National School Reform Faculty
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