Tuning Protocol

The Tuning Protocol is a collaborative, systematic, and structured procedure for reviewing student presentations of work. It is also a professional development strategy that is recommend by the National Staff Development Council for analyzing examples of student work.

Implementation

1. Introduction (3-5 minutes). Facilitator describes Protocol and introduces the group norms.

2. Presentation (15-20 minutes). Presenter describes their work; audience is quiet. Presenter asks Focusing Question. The Focusing Question is the issue or item to which the audience is directed.

3. Clarifying Questions (5 minutes). Non-evaluative questions from the audience members asking about “who, what, when, where and how.”

4. Individual Writing (2-3 minutes). Participants write down the feedback they intend to offer.

5. Warm and Cool Feedback (10 minutes). Presenter listens silently to audience’s comments. Notes can be taken.

6. Reflection (5 minutes). Presenter specifically addresses the feedback.

 

Assessment

The Tuning Protocol, particularly the warm and cool feedback sections, is actually part of an assessment system. The information derived from the process is used to further improve the piece of student work being studied.

 

Classroom Management

• One recommended practice is to establish group norms or standards of behavior before starting the protocol. One example would be: Each person should attempt to make a thoughtful contribution to the discussion.
• Be sure that all participants are thoroughly familiar with the process before beginning.
• Be sure to faithfully monitor the time allocations.
• Examples of what can be tuned include written student work, displays, performances, and products.
• At the conclusion of all presentations, or periodically, the facilitator can debrief on the protocol itself leading a discussion of the protocol including both process and content.

 

Interdisciplinary Connections

This procedure can be used in any discipline.

 

Preparation time: 15 / Delivery time: 95