THE METHOD

Protocol for engaging faculty and gathering information

The project is designed to be implemented across multiple Unizin schools. Project leaders maintain consistency in:

• Recruitment: Participating faculty characteristics

• Moderator training / preparation

• Utilizing project resources

• Sessions’ structure and activities

• Data collection and formatting, which enables synthesis and reporting

Process Overview

The process we use goes by many names, including “Consensus Workshop” and “KJ-Technique.” We use the language “structured conversation” to describe a structured, scripted process for generating, grouping, and prioritizing ideas. The process was adapted for the online environment. Facilitators move participants through these activities:

1. Facilitators establish context

2. Participants individually brainstorm and generate ideas; then work in pairs to capture/document ideas

3. All participants work together to cluster like ideas, and name these clusters

4. Individual participants “vote up” ideas that are most important to them The final product is an artifact that documents the range of the conversation but also establishes priorities.

Resources

1. Recruitment package

   • Sample email to faculty and description of goals and process

2. Support resources

   • To provide consistent data collection, a script and a slide deck are available.

3. Practice Sessions

   • Moderators and others supporting the Structured Conversations are given opportunities to practice with colleagues

Structured Conversation: Outline

90 minutes; online

1. Establish Context (20 minutes)

   • Introductions

   • Goals of session and question prompt: What information about students’ digital course activity and performance, or course activities and content, would be useful to you in order to support teaching and learning?

2. Generate Ideas: (20 minutes)

   • 3 minutes. Individuals reflect on the question prompt and jot down ideas

   • Working in pairs, discuss the question prompt and enter responses in the form: I want to know… because...

   • Document ideas in response to question prompt: working in pairs, write responses on virtual sticky notes

BREAK (5)

3. Organize and Name Groups (35)

   • Put the post-its on a virtual board and organize them into categories; title categories.

   • Discuss the identified items and categories and identify questions

4. Prioritize Ideas & Wrap Up (10 minutes)

   • Establish priorities by “voting up” ideas that are most important to them

   • Remind participants of the significance of this work