February 2024 Protocol of the Month: Choose-Swap-Choose

This protocol provides students a way to judge the quality of their work.  Whether it is comparing shown work in similar math problems, reviewing mapping skills, or writing an essay, the strategy below will provide students​ with feedback to improve performance.  How can you incorporate Choose-Swap-Choose in your classroom?  Leave a comment below- 

CHOOSE-SWAP-CHOOSE (Feedback, Discussion, Collaboration)

Description: Because not everything can be or should be graded, Choose-Swap-Choose provides students with real time peer feedback focused on the quality of their work by analyzing, discerning, and eventually discussing with peers the most successful product from several iterations of the same or similar items.    

Application: Use this strategy in all subjects when measurement of progress or improvement is desired.   

Process: Refer to Model of Excellence's Attributes of High Quality Work to set standards.  Provide students with an overview and relevant examples of quality before starting process.  Be intentional by announcing which items students should keep/save because depending on what items are to be examined, the collection time can be within a class period, days, weeks, or months. At the appropriate time, list the items students will need for the activity and give them a few minutes to collect their work.  Display at least three attributes of “quality” and ask students to review their work based on the attributes and decide which of the work exemplifies “quality.”  Remind students to make a note of which item they chose.  Once completed, students will swap their papers with a partner and based on the criteria, will select which work exemplifies quality.  Provide time for students to defend choices and let the originator of the work make the final decision.  Allow time for whole class discussion, focus on the listed quality attributes.

Resources and For More information:
Attributes of High Quality Work. Models of Excellence, The Center for High Quality Student Work. Attributes of High Quality Work | Models of Excellence (eleducation.org)
Collin, J. Quigley, A. Teacher Feedback to Improve Pupil Learning Guidance Report. Education Endowment Foundation
Choose Swap Choose Strategy (Meenakshi Narula - Mentoring The Mentors)
https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/eef-guidance-reports/feedback/Teacher_Feedback_to_Improve_Pupil_Learning.pdf