Professional Development

Grade Level Cohorts

Bur ni ng Quest i ons Pr ot oc ol

Developed by Christina Botbyl and Lissa Layman

Purpose:
To provide a reflective forum for colleagues to process new/reviewed information presented in
professional development workshops.

Roles:
Facilitator

Timing:
30 60 minutes

Pre-Protocol/Activity:
Participants identify any (conceptual or debatable) questions that they may have about a PD topic
before a workshop.

The Protocol/Activity:

1. What are the top Burning Questions in this cohort? (5 minutes)
Each participant writes on a Post-It note ONE of his/her Burning Questions. Place Post-It
notes on cohort chart paper.
After all participants have placed their Post-It notes on the cohort chart paper, the facilitator
will review the questions with the cohort and consolidate any questions of a similar nature.
The facilitator will give each participant two dot stickers. Each participant will use the
stickers to vote for TWO Burning Question to be discussed within the cohort.
The facilitator will identify the top TWO Burning Questions (based on voting) that will be
discussed.
This can also be done electronically using a Google Doc or Form.

2. Burning Question #1. (10 15 minutes)
The facilitator reads Burning Question #1 aloud for the group.
1-minute silent reflection time for participants to think about what they would like to say
about the question.
Participants will each have a 1-minute turn during which he/she will address the question.
Participants may choose to pass their turn instead of speak.
NOTE to facilitator: the timing of this round will be determined by the number of members in
your cohort.

3. Burning Question #2. (10 15 minutes)
The facilitator reads Burning Question #1 aloud for the group.
1-minute silent reflection time for participants to think about what they would like to say
about the question.
Participants will each have a 1-minute turn during which he/she will address the question.
Participants may choose to pass their turn instead of speak.
NOTE to facilitator: the timing of this round will be determined by the number of members in
your cohort.

4. Debrief. (5 minutes)
What worked?
What are the key take-aways from todays PD workshop(s)?