Saturday, June 16, 2018

Purpose, Process and Protocol

One way to look at a problem is to determine purpose, process, and protocol with an eye on finding a solution.

Purpose: What was the original purpose and rationale for the situation.

Process: What process was put in place to ensure that you meet the purpose and rationale.

Protocols: What protocols are in place.

As I think about our recent Global Cardboard Challenge, I can apply these three P's.

Purpose: To give students a chance to use the design process to design and build something students will enjoy .

Process:
  • Teacher research, planning, and prep.
  • Introduce and carry out the design process: Empathize, Ideate, Prototype, Test, Finesse, and share. 
  • Clean up and reflect
Protocols:
  • Use materials as they are meant to be used
  • Use your best collaborative skills
  • Let teachers cut the cardboard with box cutters
  • Lead your games with kindness and respect towards your customers
  • Persevere during the tough parts of the project
  • Seek help when needed
These three P's were used to carry out the project and the project went well.

If I utilize the three P's to analyze another type of problem, the three P's might point to missing pieces. For example there was a time in my career where I had a less than positive parent meeting. 

Purpose: To meet with a family and child to discuss his program, effort, and results

Process:
  • Preparing the materials (I had not readied the materials with enough lead time so there was some incompleteness and  unfamiliarity with them at the conference)
  • Review the materials and records. Have the meeting space ready. (I didn't get in on time)
  • Use a script to lead the conference with the child (There was no script)
Protocols:
  • Welcome family members with first names (I didn't make time to review that information)
  • Let the child lead the conference (We didn't make time for the child to practice)
  • Have the data and information ready to provide a well-rounded picture of the child's work (Materials and preparation were incomplete).
It's easy to see here that the overarching problem with this conference which happened more than a year ago was lack of preparedness.

Using this three P's can help you find the promise in a problem--the way to solve the problem and do that work better next time.