Overview:   Classroom climate and school tone affect student behavior and learning in significant ways. This course investigates the field of conflict resolution education in the context of creating positive and caring classrooms and schools, increasing social and emotional competencies, and supporting students’ academic achievement. The course will focus on age-appropriate curriculum design, covering topics that appear in evidence-based conflict resolution education programs. These topics include cooperation, communication skills, understanding and managing emotions, problem-solving and negotiation skills. Implementation of classroom based approaches, including workshop models and curriculum infusion models, are also examined. Each topic will be approached using experiential methods that model age-appropriate pedagogy for conflict resolution education.   Objectives:   At the end of the course, participants will: Understand the basic concepts and skills children need to resolve conflict constructively Be able to implement classroom-based strategies for teaching communication skills, cooperation, managing emotions, problem-solving and negotiation Identify and use age-appropriate pedagogical approaches to teaching skills and concepts relevant to conflict resolution education Effectively facilitate experiential learning activities in conflict resolution education Articulate the relative advantages of teaching conflict resolution skills through a workshop approach vs. infusing conflict resolution skills and concepts into the existing curriculum Understand issues that must be addressed in order to implement whole-school approaches to conflict resolution education   Agenda:   Day 1 Morning: Welcome, introductions and course overview Community practices and climate setting Art-based activity: Visions of conflict resolution education Five levels of intervention in conflict resolution education How our adult-level assumptions about conflict affect the classroom Key concepts in conflict resolution Afternoon: Connections between social-emotional learning and academic achievement Core themes in conflict resolution education programs Theme 1: Cooperation: Research findings and curriculum activities Implications, Questions, and Reflections   Day 2 Morning: Re-connecting activity Theme 2: Communication skills, Part 1: Listening skills. Research findings and curriculum activities Theme 3: Managing Emotions: Research findings and curriculum activities. Helping young people handle anger Afternoon: Communication skills, Part 2: Informing skills. Research findings and curriculum activities Centering practices: Research findings and curriculum activities Implications, Questions, and Reflections   Day 3 Morning: Reconnecting activity Research on conflict resolution education: implications for program implementation Theme 4: Problem solving and negotiation. Research findings and curriculum activities. Understanding positions and needs, generating alternatives, escalation and de-escalation Negotiation practice Afternoon: Implementation models in conflict resolution education Infusing conflict resolution education in the existing curriculum: activities and examples from different subject areas Guidelines for facilitating experiential activities with children Institutionalizing conflict resolution education in schools – what does the research say? Implications, Questions, and Reflections Closing activity   Methodology:   The course is designed to integrate theory and research with practice. Participants will learn about diverse program models, research and evaluation on conflict resolution education, and the approaches of organizations active in this field through lecture and discussion. Interactive activities that heighten awareness of conflict resolution at an adult level are combined with active, classroom-oriented activities to provide participants with a first-hand experience of effective strategies that support students’ learning of essential social-emotional skills. Time will also be given to critical reflection on the implications of theory, research and practical activities for participants’ own teaching practice. Participants should come prepared to be active and engaged, and to have fun!     Trainers’ profiles:   Susan Fountain has taught “Conflict Resolution in Schools: Curriculum Design and Pedagogy” at Teachers College, Columbia University, since 2007. She has also been on the faculty of the Off-Campus College program at the School of Professional Studies, City University of New York, (formerly a program of Cornell University) since 2001, teaching courses in conflict management, adult learning, adult development, leadership and multicultural issues in the workplace. Susan spent the first 12 years of her career as a primary school teacher in the United States, and at the International School of Geneva, Switzerland. She transitioned into professional development at the Centre for Global Education, University of York, England, where she worked with schools around the country on curriculum development in global education and conflict resolution. From 1991 to 2000, Susan was a full-time consultant with the Education Section of UNICEF, where she served as focal point for the organization’s peace education and conflict resolution programs. In this capacity, she supported UNICEF country offices and ministries of education in developing programs on peace education, conflict resolution, children’s rights, and participatory learning methods in 23 countries, including Bangladesh, Croatia, Egypt, Rwanda, Serbia and Sri Lanka. In addition to working with numerous schools in the US on curriculum design, training and evaluation of conflict resolution programs, Susan has consulted with a number of organizations including the Center for Social and Emotional Education (New York), Creative Response to Conflict (New York), the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Educators for Social Responsibility (New York), ERIC Japan, the Landmine Survivors Network (Washington), the UNESCO Associated Schools Project, the United Nations Global Teaching and Learning Project, the United Nations Secretary General’s Study on Violence Against Children, the United States Fund for UNICEF, and the United States Institute for Peace. Susan holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Vassar College (New York), a Master’s degree in education from Bank Street College of Education (New York), a Diploma in Applied Educational Studies in global and multicultural education from the University of York (England), and a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Conflict Resolution from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is currently completing her doctorate in Adult Learning at Teachers College.   Potential Audience:   The course is designed for teachers and school administrators who are interested in implementing a comprehensive conflict resolution education program in their schools. It is also appropriate for school guidance and counseling staff, and parents who may be involved in supporting such a program. Curriculum developers, teacher educators and providers of school professional development programs will also benefit from this course.   Investment:   Investment Includes Course Materials, Lunch and refreshments with Certificate of Participation.   AUD 690/- Per Person Early Bird offer AUD 590/- per person till 15th May 2010.   Closing Date : June 30th 2010.   Venue:   Melbourne     Contact:   Shonal Agarwal CEO Chapters International +91-9818362535, +91-991190110 shonal@chaptersinternational.com workshops@chaptersinternational.com Website: www.chaptersinternational.com