Discussion protocols are carefully constructed directions to help you develop ideas, share opinions, and provide constructive criticisms with your peers. These protocols are meant to help you strengthen your communication skills while promoting equity and responsibility. Follow the guidelines below when engaging in a discussion protocol.
- Ensure that each member of the group has the link to access the meeting and has it set in their calendar.
- Have members check their audio and video-sharing capabilities prior to the meeting.
- If your discussion protocol does not include pre-determined roles, you may choose to make your own. Here are a few common roles you may select for a virtual meeting:
- TimeKeeper: Manages the discussion by ensuring that everyone gets a chance to speak and that the discussion stays within the given time frame.
- Birdwalk Manager: Ensures that everyone stays on task and focused on the conversation.
- Protocol Promoter: Reads the protocol directions and ensures that the collaborators are following the guidelines.
- Everyone actively listens to the speaker. All participants are engaged and focused.
- Participants utilize Accountable Talk®.
- Each new comment is related to prior comments or introduces a new idea that will further the conversation.
- Participants are mindful of who is speaking and encourage all participants to offer opinions.
- When you have accomplished your goal, express gratitude towards one another for respectfully exchanging thoughts.
Accountable Talk® is a registered term from the University of Pittsburgh. This material is reproduced with permission from IDE Corp.