Session Summary

Session Number:426
Session ID:S523
Session Title:Managing Conflict in the Pluralistic Classroom
Short Title:
Session Type:Professional Development Workshop
Hotel:Hyatt West
Floor:LL2
Room:San Francisco
Time:Sunday, August 08, 1999 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Sponsors

CM  (Laurie Weingart)weingart@cyrus.andrew.cmu.edu (412) 268-7585 

General People

Chair Connelley, Debra L. State U. of New York, Buffalo dconn@acsu.buffalo.edu (716)-645-2235 
Chair Davidson, Martin N. U. of Virginia mdav@virginia.edu (804)-924-4483 
Discussant Bell, Ella L. U. of North Carolina, Charlotte eebell@email.uncc.edu (704)-547-3199 
Discussant Ting-Toomey, Stella  California State U., Fullerton sting@fullerton.edu 714-278-3691 

Submissions

Abstract

Nearly all of us teach in classrooms that are anywhere from 15-50% international, 25 - 50% female, increasing numbers of native ethnic minorities, people of various educational backgrounds ranging from engineering to art history. These inter- cultural experiences can be very challenging and sometimes emotionally wrenching for all parties involved. Conflict management can become a major issue, especially in highly pluralistic teams. Being effective often involves exchanging a comfortable pedagogy for one that will not exclude large numbers of students.
Participants will do role plays and cases of actual dilemmas found in the pluralistic classroom. Small groups will brainstorm possible ways for the instructor to handle the volatile situation. Solutions will be critiqued by experts in multi-cultural communication and intergroup conflict. The session also features a "tutorial" of experiential activities for inter-cultural learning. These exercises would be appropriate for a section in OB on managing diversity or an orientation session for new MBA students.