Tuning Protocol

The Tuning Protocol was originally developed as a means for the 5 high schools in the Coalition of Essential School's Exhibitions Project to receive feedback and fine-tune their developing student assessment systems, including exhibitions, portfolios, and design projects. Recognizing the complexities involved in developing new forms of assessment, the project staff developed a facilitated process to support educators in sharing their students' work (sometimes students brought their own work) and, with colleagues, reflect upon the lessons that are embedded there. This collaborative reflection helps educators design and refine their assessment systems, and supports higher quality student performance. Since its trial run in 1992, the Tuning Protocol has been widely used and adapted for looking at both student and adult work in and among schools across the country.