Students Resolving Conflicts Making Choices ITEEA Annual Conference 2015, Milwaukee, WI Cal Halliburton and Joanne Trombley, DTE Instructional Materials available at

How we got here? Orlando IdeaGarden question Joanne volunteers Choice classroom philosophy Pre-K to Corporate leaders Around the world

Joanne’s Classroom Students Question to students Students respond 172 conflicts indicated Nine categories – Bullying, Fighting, Seating, Drama, Pencils, Gossip/Put downs/Rumor, Relationships, Miscellaneous, and Teacher/School

We want our students to be able to: Resolve their own conflicts Make good decisions for themselves – Effectively resolve their own conflicts – Understand what they learn through the logical connections embedded in the information so that they can derive, rather than memorize, answers – Work effectively in collaborative teams Think clearly and logically

Structure An axiom of systems thinking is that structure influences action. We have many considerations that influence what we do. Often we are faced with difficult trade-offs and must make a good and confident decision in the best interest of all the parties involved.

Structure Conflicts and decisions have a structure. Making the structure visible and asking the attending questions helps surface the underlying assumptions that otherwise may not be considered. Decisions can be described as a conflict between two prerequisites to meeting the needs necessary to achieving a goal.

Structure These decisions are usually of the type: Do something vs. do something different Do something vs. not doing it Have something vs. not having it Have something vs. someone else having it Provide something vs. not providing it Provide something vs. provide something else, Do one thing versus another when they are incompatible with each other.

Structure A graphic model of the structure of conflict and decision makes thinking visible and acts as a guide to ensure that important elements are considered. The graphic model works like a trouble shooting checklist.

Technology and Engineering Educators are very good at: Teaching our students how to use and develop processes, procedures, and checklists for making, manufacturing, safety, and trouble shooting. Shouldn’t we also teach them how to use and develop processes, procedures, and checklists for resolving conflicts, making decisions, and collaborating?

Of course we should…

Two Classes of Conflicts: 1.One side against another or our side against another 2.Internal conflict over “what to do?”

One Side versus Other Side Learn to resolve their own conflicts

The Chair The second day of class, Jacob rushes in the door, deposits his stack of books on a folding chair in the center front row and excuses himself to the bathroom. Other students file in the lab filling all the chairs except two in the back row. Jacob returns to find the front row of chairs occupied and his books stacked on the floor. “That’s my chair.” Jacob says loudly to Kevin, who is seated where Jacob had placed his books. “Don’t see your name on it.” Smirks Kevin. “THAT’S MY CHAIR AND YOU KNOW IT!” yells Jacob, who now has everyone’s attention.

What to Do? Read about this method Watched some people do it Plan to teach it next week Here is the perfect example Teach it now with this conflict or wait until next week. Opportunity knocked and was answered!

We Encounter Two Types of Conflicts: 1.One side against another or our side against another 2.Internal conflict over “what to do”

Internal Conflict Over “What to Do?”

Wayne Hall’s Decision Story Line Wayne Hall is an experienced technology teacher. He follows the standards for technology education and uses many methods of problem solving in his curriculum. His students seem to be able to use some of the problem solving methods in technical and academic situations in class, but continue to have conflicts and make questionable decisions inside and outside of class. He is puzzled over the difficulty of transferring skills from design situations to other life situations. A parent and business consultant has suggested that he use the Conflict Cloud in his classroom. Wayne is wondering if he should take this advice.

Wayne’s Injection Wayne assumed that other people were truthful when they told him how it worked in their classrooms. Wayne prepared to give it a trial run, just not on the second day of class. That was serendipity.

Conflicts, Choices and Decisions Have a Simple Structure That is… Straightforward Understandable Versatile Effective for preschoolers and corporate leaders Used across curriculum Used around the world Effective and Works

We want our students to be able to: Resolve their own conflicts Make good decisions for themselves – Effectively resolve their own conflicts – Understand what they learn through the logical connections embedded in the information so that they can derive, rather than memorize, answers – Work effectively in collaborative teams Think clearly and logically

Learning Materials From this presentation and other supporting information will be available Monday 03/30/15 at… Click on ITEEA Presentation and… Explore the web site.

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