1. Non-violent Conflict Resolution
Brooklyn Graczyk
EDU 230

2. Objectives
After the presentation, students will know what the elements of a conflict and how the ones involved in conflict can deal with their threatening emotions.
At the end of the presentation, students will know what non-violent conflict resolution is and why it is important in the classroom.
At the end of class, students will be able to understand the steps and final goals of non-violent conflict resolution.

4. What is a conflict?? Definition What are the stages?
a situation in which people express differences in satisfying their individual needs and interests, and they experience interference from each other in accomplishing these goals.
What are the stages?
There are usually 6 places on the conflict spectrum
Mild difference
Disagreement
Dispute
Campaign
Litigation
Fight

5. How does Conflict occur?
Conflict arises when we perceive differences as a threat to our values or beliefs
Some people have the personality that can “make sparks fly during interactions” and some “make sparks grow into fire.”

6. Why Resolve it?
With conflict resolution there are two big concerns that need to be kept in mind
Achieving a goal or concern for self
Maintaining a relationship with the other person or group of people, in other words concern for others

7. Responses to Conflict? Avoidance Accommodating Bargaining Competing
The responses to conflict can be remembered if you think of the ABC’s
Avoidance
Accommodating
Bargaining
Competing
Collaborating

8. Review What is conflict? How does it occur?
What are the different places on the “conflict spectrum?”
What are the different responses to conflict? What does each mean?

9. Non-violent resolution?
What is it?
It is a way of solving conflict without coming to violent acts against each other.

10. Mediation A positive conflict resolution method Why does it work?
Both parties’ issues are heard and understood
The agreement that is reached is reasonable and fair
The relationship between the two parties can be helped during the process
Both parties will be able to manage their relationship in the future

11. Mediation Cont’d. Steps?
Creating the context – a comfortable and private space and sufficient uninterrupted time are provided
Explaining the process – the purpose and ground rules of mediation are discussed
Listening to what happened – both sides are enabled to tell their story in turn and without interruption
Defining problems and concerns – concerns are clarified and an agenda is set by the mediator with participants
Focusing on the future and finding solutions – solutions that suit both parties are sought from the parties themselves
Concluding – a shared agreement is confirmed and sometimes written down.

12. Skills for Mediation? What skills should a Mediator use?
A non-judgmental tone of voice and impartial body language
Questions that will lead the discussion forward
Active listening
Acknowledgement of feelings
Positive reframing of information

13. Peer Mediation
Often student/student disputes can be resolved best by student mediators.
Not every conflict can be mediated by peers though
Peer Mediation can be taught, but it needs to be taught by staff trained in mediation

14. Peer Mediation Cont’d
Beneficial for students because it teaches them how to resolve conflict outside of the classroom.
Schools are always looking for new ways to improve school safety
Some conflicts that threaten school safety happen outside the confines of school, but the majority of threats happen due to conflicts in school that escalate.

15. Review What is non-violent conflict resolution?
How does mediation work?
What are some important skills to remember when mediating?
What are the steps of mediation?

16. Activity time!
In your groups take the time to read your situation and decide first where on the conflict spectrum it is on, then decide which response to conflict it is. Finally, take some time to discuss how you would go about teaching your students how to resolve it.

17. Objectives
After the presentation, students will know what the elements of a conflict and how the ones involved in conflict can deal with their threatening emotions.
At the end of the presentation, students will know what non-violent conflict resolution is and why it is important in the classroom.
At the end of class, students will be able to understand the steps and final goals of non-violent conflict resolution.

18. Reference
Key elements of conflict. (2002). In Conflict management. Retrieved November 14, 2012, from
Victorian Association for Dispute Regulation Inc. (2001). Conflict resolution in schools. Retrieved November 9, 2012
ABC's responses to conflict. (2012). In Woking with difficult people. Retrieved November 10, 2012, from
Calbreath, W., & Crews, M. E. (2011). Peer mediationa and middle school students. Perspectives in peer programs, 23(1), 3. Retrieved from Educators Reference (GALE|A ).