Conflict Resolution Practices in Diverse Contexts: Exploring Interdisciplinary Professionals’ Experiences With Conflict and Diversity

• In Event: Pathways to Peace Education

Abstract

This paper presents various democratic and inclusive dialogic pedagogies that encourage interdisciplinary students to engage in dialogue about conflict and diversity. Multimodal, dialogic pedagogies, such as circle processes, cooperative learning, critical thinking exercises, and interdisciplinary teams, are used to engage students in learning about peacebuilding and conflict resolution, within the context of diversity. Interdisciplinary courses, such as conflict resolution, peacebuilding and social justice, facilitate a creative tension between different discipline-specific ways of knowing. Through dialogue this complexity is examined through an individual and collective transformation of the disciplinary perspectives. This presentation draws on students’ experiences of conflict in their school and workplace settings to show how practitioners embody transformative conflict resolution practices.

Author

• Christina Parker, Ryerson University