Discussion can be a powerful learning experience, giving participants the opportunity to explore new concepts, generate questions, test assumptions, and develop new ways of thinking about an issue or topic. But it is not always clear how to launch and sustain productive discussions — either among students or among ourselves as professionals. Some people are reluctant to talk; some dominate the discussion. Some people assume that discussion is an opportunity to assert their point of view and argue why it is the only reasonable perspective. 

In this workshop, you’ll learn simple structures or «protocols» for getting everyone in the room engaged in articulating their own thinking, listening carefully to others’ ideas, asking thoughtful questions, and generating connections.  We’ll practice those structures in the workshop and discuss how to facilitate particular challenges that might arise in the context of classroom discussions.

This workshop is facilitated by Tina Blythe

Tina Blythe is a researcher, teacher, facilitator, consultant, and writer. Since 1988, she has been a researcher and a project director at Project Zero (PZ), a research group based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE), where she also teaches. She is part of Project Zero’s online learning team, designing and facilitating online professional development courses and investigating effective online learning practices. Central to her research and teaching is how to create and sustain learning environments (whether face-to-face or online) that support deep understanding and thinking. Collaborative inquiry and the collaborative assessment of student and teacher work are key focuses of her work. She began her career teaching secondary school. For twelve years, she was the Director of Faculty Development for the Boston Architectural College. She leads workshops and provides consultation for organizations and schools around the world. 

She is the co-author of a number of books (all published by Teachers College Press) including Protocols in the Classroom: Tools to Help Students Read, Write, Think, and Collaborate (2018)  Looking Together at Student Work, 3rd Ed. (2015); Facilitating for Learning (2015); and The Facilitator’s Book of Questions (2004). She is the lead author of The Teaching for Understanding Guide (Jossey-Bass, 1998), which has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Swedish, and Georgian.

What previous participants say about workshops with Tina Blythe 

Having to teach restless and anxious students, I have been struggling with finding the right tools to keep their attention on the topic and not on their computers and cellphones. Just last week, I was really frustrated because I hate giving lectures, but I didn’t have the tools to change the dynamics in class. This has been a game changer for me in so many ways. I’m hoping to share it with the rest of my colleagues so that they, too, can change the way they teach. I also loved the explanation on the story of learning. I think it explains why students don’t see learning the way some of us, as teachers, see it. I just loved the workshop in general.  —Dominique Feterman 

I liked the content, the way the workshop was designed, how Tina facilitated, and the arrangement of the classroom. I enjoyed the workshop with Tina Blythe because I know I can use the protocols and can put them to practice. I liked the examples and analogies Tina used, they let me understand things so much faster. I didn’t feel time passing by in the workshop. Tina is a super star facilitator! — Katherinne Del Valle

 

Schedule

Friday and Saturday:  We are offering the same workshop on two consecutive days – offering two different schedules to choose from. 

Friday, March 17
from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 18
from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fee: USD $350 – Early bird: USD $250
*Early bird ends on February 28, 2023

If you are an active UFM member who needs sponsorship to attend, please sign up and indicate how much support you need in the comments section. We’ll contact your department (Facultad) to let them know that you are interested in joining us.