CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

Conflict resolution professionals work in a range of fields, including business, law, education, healthcare, and government. They act as arbitrators, mediators, facilitators, ombudsmen, and counselors. They must understand the root causes and dynamics of conflict and how to resolve disputes through reasoned negotiation. Conflict resolution skills should be a fundamental part of school's curriculum, discipline approach, and management style: studies have consistently found that the more conflict resolution techniques permeate the atmosphere and curriculum in schools, the greater the decrease in violence, bullism, behavioral disorders, improvement in classroom management, and enhancement of students' social and emotional development.

The most fundamental benefit of peer mediation is that it effectively resolves student conflicts. Close to 90 percent of all mediation sessions result in an agreement that satisfies not only the parties, but teachers, administrators, and parents as well. And when students choose to end a conflict in mediation, it is resolved for good. This is because mediators encourage their peers to discuss all issues in dispute, not only the precipitating incidents. Even in cases where written agreements do not result, parties often learn enough about the situation to defuse their conflict.

The course looks at conflict mediation from a social constructionist and appreciative perspective. Just as well as differences and disagreements can lead to conflicts and cause great destruction, they can also be a potential for growth and open up to new possibilities for change and development. The focus will be on giving you an ability to inquire into the good reasons of others and appreciate their perspective (even when you disagree). Furthermore it will train you in asking questions that reveal the patterns of the conflict as well as of the times where things worked better. This encourages the parties to act differently without feeling blamed, and relationships will be repaired. The participant get a chance to practice inquiring into the good reasons of the parties and appreciating their perspective (even when he/she disagrees). Furthermore the participant will be trained in asking questions that reveal the patterns of the conflict as well as of the times where things worked better.

The methodology of the training is based on a combination of three important elements:

• Provision of knowledge required (theory)
• Use of training tools, such as case studies, videos, games, animations & exercises (practice – hands on experience)
• Feedback/reflection (review)

• Understanding Conflict and Cooperation
• Introduction to Negotiation
• Introduction to Mediation
• Innovative approaches to teaching
• Types of conflicts
• Main causes of the intrapersonal conflict at school
• Conflict management: methodological elements
• Principal trading techniques
• Listening as a tool in the mediation
• Conflict intrapersonal
• The interpersonal conflict
• The relational styles in the group
• The responses to frustration
• Communications skills