Navigating Difficult Conversations

Abstract

Navigating Difficult Discussions is a 4-module online program, culminating in a certificate that prepares post-secondary educators to facilitate difficult conversations in their classes and in other areas within their professional contexts. This self-paced program will engage the learner with the principles of civil discourse, navigating polarity, and separating the (objectionable) opinion from the person (who advances that opinion). The program will also familiarize educators with Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) themes such as race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, privilege, and decolonization; but it goes beyond that to provide the skills that encourage students, faculty members and colleagues to engage with these themes through the lens of transformative justice rather than shutting down/calling out those whose positions result in conflict and offense. Post-secondary institutions are struggling to balance their support of free speech (and academic freedom) with their support of social justice movements, and thus this program will help educators to consider their role in promoting civil discourse on campus. Upon completion of this 4-module training program, instructors will be able to 1) Use an understanding of EDI (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) to recognize the language and attitudes which trigger a shutdown response 2) Reflect on their own identity components and personal values 3) Demonstrate greater self-awareness of what makes them uncomfortable and why 4) Interrupt triggering communication styles in real time in a manner that encourages continued engagement 5) Show an understanding of how privilege informs assumptions, presuppositions, biases and what we conceive of as “common sense” 6) Model the tools to foster the ability to see multiple perspectives and 7) Apply the tools to foster compassion and respect.