Interpersonal Dynamics: Collaboration, F

The Skills Practicum: Self as Instrument course develops students’ capacity to act as reflective practitioners of constructive conflict resolution. Building on theories presented in Introduction to Negotiation and Introduction to Mediation, the course provides students with many opportunities to develop self-awareness and to practice the skills of negotiation, mediation, and facilitation.

To intervene as skilled practitioners, conflict-resolution professionals need to understand both what they themselves bring to the table as well as the appropriate strategies and communicative skills for effective conflict management. Along with those skills, they require a deep understanding of how their own worldview shapes their biases and perspectives to form the lens that they use to view and respond to conflict.

Students bring their own unique experiences, insights and communicative strengths to the learning process. This course seeks to build on these contributions, providing (1) tools for deepening self-awareness as a means of advancing connection to others, (2) opportunities for strengthening their face-to-face communication skills as negotiators and as mediators, and (3) techniques for developing their skills as third-party facilitators.