Disagreements and discomfort are sometimes natural and necessary parts of the learning process. Nevertheless, even the most experienced teacher may feel challenged by conflictual and challenging situations in the classroom. Stress, overload, or differing expectations and preferences regarding how teaching should be delivered can lead students to complain or disengage during class. Conflicts about how to learn and collaborate may seriously disrupt study group work, while student anxiety or emotional distress might challenge an important exam situation.

This workshop offers a space to explore such experiences through cases relevant to the participants. It also provides a framework, along with selected tools and resources, to support you in finding constructive ways forward that suit your specific needs, resources, and teaching context.

Learning outcome

After this course, you will be able to:

• Differentiate between various stress reactions and describe how they may manifest in the classroom or study group environments.
• Apply basic tools of non-violent conflict resolution according to the ACE framework (acknowledge – create room – engage).
• Implement methods for handling heated situations, as well as panic and emotional distress. 
• Use formats for sharing and discussing your own experiences of conflicts with students in dialogue with peers, and reflect on solutions that are appropriate to the specific context and teacher.

Content

The course is run as a workshop with elements of casework and peer discussions, mixed with brief presentations about relevant frameworks and techniques.