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Harnessing Conflict for School Change: A Curriculum Controversy Simulation

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HBGCC - 217D

Learning Lab

ASCD Annual Content

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Session description

Conflict in polarized school communities is a rising challenge for today’s educators. Participants will be immersed in a school-based simulation, which they will resolve collaboratively through a series of decision trees. In the process, they will acquire evidence-based conflict resolution strategies that harness divisiveness to achieve constructive outcomes.

Outline

In an innovative learning lab simulation, participants will encounter a four-part conflict scenario based on a curriculum controversy. Before each decision point, they will receive background information describing the scenario in more detail, followed by a brief presentation on relevant conflict resolution research. Next, participants will be offered alternative pathways that a leader might follow to address the situation. Using an audience response app, participants will select one option, which will take them to the next step in the scenario. The final step in the scenario will demonstrate how "conflict agility" strategies can harness conflict to create a collaborative and resilient school culture. Following the conclusion of the simulation, attendees will work with the presenters to design structured plans to turnkey their newly acquired conflict resolution skills for stakeholder groups back in their school communities.

10 minutes - Introduce simulation
15 minutes - Decision point 1: Identifying the problem
15 minutes - Decision point 2: Using conflict resolution language
15 minutes - Decision point 3: Applying conflict resolution strategies
15 minutes - Decision point 4: Building school capacity
15 minutes - Bringing it back to your school community
5 minutes - Take-aways

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Supporting research

From Conflict to Collaboration: A School Leader's Guide to Unleashing Conflict's Problem-Solving Power
--https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781475861730/From-Conflict-to-Collaboration-A-School-Leaders-Guide-to-Unleashing-Conflicts-Problem-Solving-Power
Leading through Conflict: How Successful Leaders Transform Differences into Opportunities
--https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Through-Conflict-Differences-Opportunities/dp/159139919X
Six Myths about Conflict in Schools
--https://www.edutopia.org/article/myths-about-conflict-schools
The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization
--https://www.amazon.com/Way-Out-Overcome-Toxic-Polarization/dp/0231197403
New Leaders: Here's How to Navigate Conflict
--https://ascd.org/el/articles/new-leaders-heres-how-to-navigate-conflict
How School Leaders Can Learn to "Disagree Better"
--https://www.edweek.org/leadership/how-school-leaders-can-learn-to-disagree-better/2024/09?utm_source=nl&utm_medium=eml&utm_campaign=eu&M=11111221&UUID=453d9191ab01e86dc4643beb18c771a7&T=14620253

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Presenters

Dr. Robert Feirsen

Associate Professor

Manhattanville University

Dr. Seth Weitzman

Senior Lecturer

Mercy University

Session specifications

Topic:

Leadership

TLP:

Grade level:

PK-12

Audience:

District Level Leadership, School Level Leadership, Curriculum Designer/Director

Attendee devices:

Devices required

Attendee device specification:

Smartphone: Android, iOS, Windows
Laptop: Chromebook, Mac, PC
Tablet: Android, iOS, Windows

Subject area:

Other: Please specify