Getting middle and high school students to think deeply about global issues of change and social justice, while also considering the choices they make in their own lives, is a crucial but complicated task. This interactive workshop for educators featured two innovative online learning modules designed by Facing History and Ourselves to engage students in these issues– “Be The Change: Upstanding for Human Rights” and “Transitional Justice: Repairing Self and Society.” Participants explore challenges that individuals or societies face as they attempt to heal, repair and rebuild after injustice, mass violence or genocide; examples of what students can do, and are doing, to make change are included.
Archive
Conflict Resolution Education in Trinidad and Tobago
With support from the Organization of American States, and funding from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government, and Global Issues Resource Center, Cuyahoga Community College, a Conflict Management Training Workshop was held in Trinidad. In an effort to promote greater democratic participation by youth (including college/university aged students) and reduce violence, the two Ministries have partnered to train teams in the schools and community in conflict management strategies, service learning and student government.
Muppet Diplomacy: Sesame Workshop’s approach to promoting peace around the world
Sesame Workshop is known throughout the world for its efforts to leverage the power of media and Muppets to engage children and promote the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to build mutual respect and understanding across cultural divides. In this session, Sesame Workshop’s “Muppet Diplomacy” work will be highlighted. Through the presentation of clips from several co-productions from different parts of the world, an overview of Sesame Workshop’s production model and its application to key projects in conflict and post-conflict countries was presented along with the research providing evidence of impact.
Restorative Measures for School Connectedness & Alternatives to Suspension
This day long training will provide participants with an experiential overview of the principles and practices of restorative measures in schools: as a disciplinary response to harm and rule violations, as a framework for community building and youth development and as a positive school climate approach. Illustrations of restorative practices will be presented, and participants will discuss the continuum of problem solving responses, from classroom community building circles to one-on-one conversations, to face to face processes to repair harm.
Citizen Diplomacy as CRE: Building Mutual Understanding and Peaceful Relations
This workshop will discuss Citizen Diplomacy through international exchange of young teaching professionals as the means to improving mutual understanding and international relations between France and the United States. In the last three years, Franco-American Teachers in Training Institute (FATITI) has developed an international model of teacher training and professional development. The FATITI grant was established to provide an opportunity for exchange of both French teachers and American pre-service teachers at the beginning of their career while teaching abroad. This workshop will highlight how this global experience has helped teachers, students, and host communities increase their tolerance and appreciation for diversity.
Intercultural Peace Education in Crimean Educational Institutions: Knowledge, Skills and Values
The integrated course: “Culture of Neighborhood” is a joint initiative of several non-governmental organizations and educational institutions with funding from the Ministry of Education and Science of Crimea, Ukraine. This course includes the acquisition of knowledge and skills in conflict resolution, intercultural competence, and values of diversity and tolerance. The course is taught at all levels – from kindergarten through university. An overview of the course with special emphasis on the methodology of education in poly-ethnic communities will be provided along with examples of lessons and evaluation tools.
The Role of Students and Student Organizations in Campus Violence
While administrative and regulatory functions are discussed in higher education literature regarding responses to violence, student engagement in this area is relatively understudied. As an aspect of dissertation research, this workshop will facilitate discussion on the role of students and student organizations in campus violence prevention efforts. The session will provide insights into the informal structures and support networks that prevent and reduce campus violence.
State-wide Initiatives in New York and Ohio: Creating Positive Learning Environments
The New York Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Education will share current and developing initiatives to create positive learning environments in their states. The Ohio Department of Education will highlight various risk and climate indicators and the relationships that provide powerful, empirical predictors of school and student success. The New York Department of Education will discuss the New York Social and Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL) Guidelines which encourage school districts to address children’s and adolescents’ affective development in support of their challenging academic preparations. SEDL is part of a united effort outlined in The Children’s Plan, 2008 written by New York’s nine child-service agencies. This Plan is in support of the NY Board of Regent’s Reform Agenda which views social-emotional supports and community services to students as key strategies in turning around low performing schools.
Systemic Approach to Peace Education in the Crimean Community
This workshop will examine the systemic approach to peace education coordinated by the Integration Development Center (IDC) together with other NGOs and educational institutions in the Crimea, an area threatened by interethnic tensions and economic, social and political instability. Research results demonstrate that this work helps overcome negative stereotypes. Special attention is paid to the “Culture of Neighborhood” course as a method of introducing intercultural education into the regional education policy We will discuss effective cooperation with NGOs, educators, scholars and governmental officials and how the timely and task-oriented education activities, directed at promoting tolerance in relations between representatives of different cultures, can remove the threat of instability.
CRE Resource Creation and Discovery via CREducation.org
The Conflict Resolution Education in Teacher Education (CRETE) project, funded in part by JAMS and the Department of Education (FIPSE), has been the catalyst for the creation of a dynamic set of learning materials now available at no cost online. Session participants learn more about this growing collection of learning modules, videos, training guides, slide shows, CRE skill portfolios and more, and are introduced to free tools that they can use to create their own content. The focus will be on enhancing the community-building potential inherent in Open Educational Resources (OERs) about Conflict and Conflict Resolution. Participants will learn about ways that they can become part of a larger movement by sharing the content they create and by connecting across boundaries that in the past have limited CR Education’s growth.