Take responses and add them to the list. Give all participants a voice- at the start highlight the value of a diversity of perspectives as an essential part of the process. But if participants mutually explore the interest behind the positions, it becomes much easier to find a common ground. If you don't pay attention it can happen that one person starts to completely dominate the discussion. (2006). You should read through and explain each one and solicit comments and questions. Critique the opinion, not the person. Boice, R. (1996) First-Order Principles for College Teachers: Ten Basic Ways to Improve the Teaching Process (Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Co.). There are a number of reasons for this, some practical and some philosophical. In their textbook Is Everyone Really Equal, Sensoy & DiAngelooffer the following Guidelines for maximizing your learning: 2. If the recorder is a group member, the group and/or leader should come up with a strategy that allows her to participate fully in the discussion. Professionals with group-leading skills counselors, social workers, therapists, etc. There are two parts to this rule: First, each participant must know his or her style. Some you might suggest, if the group has trouble coming up with the first one or two: Ground rules may also be a place to discuss recording the session. Your transparency will encourage others. Then, ask if the participants have any to add. Ask students to think about the best group discussions they have been a part of, and reflect on what made these discussions so satisfying. 6. She or he can lay ground rules for discussion, such as asking participants to focus conflict on ideas rather than people and to resist being judgmental. S E=dHv>X:)GG8" You might choose to lead a group discussion, or you might find yourself drafted for the task. 2 x=@! Bring materials to help the discussion along. Develop an awareness for barriers for learning (cultural; social; experiential, etc). Once stated, anyone in the meeting can say "ELMO!" Each session will be a facilitated discussion of selected chapters, led by a member of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. In these circumstances, the leaders ability to identify points of agreement, or to ask the question that will get discussion moving again is crucial to the groups effectiveness. No one wants to find out he or she has been the subject of gossip or well-meaning "prayer discussions." This is probably the most important ground rule of all. Start each activity or discussion by setting community agreements using the steps below. 4 E.L.M.O E.L.M.O stands for "Enough, let's move on" and can be established as a meeting rule to cut unnecessary discussions. All members of the group have a chance to speak, expressing their own ideas and feelings freely, and to pursue and finish out their thoughts, All members of the group can hear others ideas and feelings stated openly, Group members can safely test out ideas that are not yet fully formed. "Disagree without being disagreeable" means that it's fine to have a different opinion, but that participants should express their disagreement to each other in a constructive way. Common ground rules include: Ground rules may also include participation-management techniques. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. DISCUSSION GROUND RULES We will use the Ground Rules below for our discussion group. Based on the authors' extensive experience in a range of settings in the United States and Canada, the book addresses the most common stumbling blocks to understanding social justice. Group Facilitation and Problem-Solving, Section 2. Dont ask people to do something, and then ignore it. Feedback could be positive, negative, or merely clarifying or correcting factual questions or errors, but is in all cases delivered respectfully. A variety of points of view are put forward and discussed, The discussion is not dominated by any one person, Arguments, while they may be spirited, are based on the content of ideas and opinions, not on personalities, Even in disagreement, theres an understanding that the group is working together to resolve a dispute, solve a problem, create a plan, make a decision, find principles all can agree on, or come to a conclusion from which it can move on to further discussion. If it doesnt, you can essentially say, Thats wrong, and I wont allow that kind of talk here, which may well put an end to the remarks, but isnt likely to change anyones mind. Even after youve wrapped up the discussion, youre not necessarily through. for Racial Justice in Higher Education A group of two or three generally doesnt need a leader to have a good discussion, but once the number reaches five or six, a leader or facilitator can often be helpful. A community health educator facilitates a smoking cessation support group. This is a discussion, not a debate. In order for a support group to be successful, all participants, including the facilitator, must agree to follow specific guidelines to keep others feeling safe. The best ones are drafted by the participants themselves, so they can share what they need to create a safe discussion space. Work Smart & Start Smart Salary Negotiation Training, National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, 1310 L St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005, Guidelines for Discussing Difficult or High-Stakes Topics, Creating Brave Conversations about Diversity and Inclusion at Work, Heres how we can discuss diversity and inclusion without confrontation, How to Start the Conversation about Diversity & Inclusion, 5 Tips for productive conversations about diversity, How to Start the Conversation about D&I in 2020, Effective Workplace Conversations on Diversity, How to Have that Tough Conversation about Diversity and Inclusion, Fun Activities to Spark Conversations about Racial Diversity, Diversity and Inclusion in the College Classroom, Diversity & Inclusion: Starting the Conversation, 6 Practical Diversity and Inclusion Activities You Can Start Today, 5 Diversity and Inclusion Activities to Build Belonging on Teams. Ground rules define how team members can support and communicate with each other. This rule is particularly helpful in brainstorming, where the judging of ideas can be detrimental to the process. That reaction not only leaves the conflict unresolved and therefore growing, so that it will be much stronger when it surfaces later but fails to examine the issues that it raises. Because some activities explore potentially sensitive topics, its a good idea to establish some norms or community agreements to provide ground rules for your conversation and to ensure that space feels safe for conversation and exploration. (The exceptions are opinions or ideas that are discriminatory or downright false.) A combination of initiating and probing questions can be an effective approach to bring out participants ideas further. Your ground rules the issue of respecting everyone should address this issue, and it probably wont come upbut there are no guarantees. All rights reserved. Fact sheet. Ground Rules What are ground rules? Another strategy is to have participants write out their answers to a question. Alternatively, you may wish to reframe their comments, making them viable additions to the discussion. Ground rules clarify expectations of behavior during the meeting. When conflict arises, what matters when is how we deal with it. 16 Ground Rules for Group Work 1 "Tackle problems, not people" When people feel that they personal viewpoint is under attack, they often feel hurt, lash out and attack back. This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. A way to approach non-participants is to provide opportunities for smaller group discussions or pair-share discussions. Come to class with assignments completed, prepared for discussion. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. Your performance is as good as your preparation. "Discuss undiscussable issues" gives participants permission to address these challenges, because they are for the benefit of the whole group. Feel free to take part in refreshments or use the restroom at any time. G.R.O.U.P.S. (2001). A way to approach the dominant participant and pull in non-participants is to redirect the discussion to another person or another topic. Start on a positive note. Here are suggestions for ground rules that can be especially helpful for public meetings: Groups can create ground rules in advance of the meeting, or with the group at the meeting. Mute yourself whenever you're not speaking on the current topic. ", 4. Encouraging participation can be accomplished by: adapted from: Center for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning Handbook, accessed July 2008. Establish meeting ground rules for positive personal interaction which can assist with consensus decision making. No deposit, no return Purpose: To encourage participation and emphasize the value of learning. Certain group ground rules are strongly suggested. Ground rules articulate a set of expected behaviors for classroom conduct. A good group discussion leader has to pay attention to the process and content of the discussion as well as to the people who make up the group. Sometimes called 'ground rules,' community agreements, or participation norms (and there are several fuller examples below), such guidelines can be provided by an instructor or generated collaboratively with students. Usually, that means comfortable furniture that can be moved around (so that, for instance, the group can form a circle, allowing everyone to see and hear everyone else easily). Meeting rules defining agenda listening actions. Regardless of the forum, conversations about diversity and inclusion can be difficult. In this section of the toolkit, we provide guidance on identifying leaders in your branch who can take on the role of diversity officer and shepherd the process of creating a diversity and inclusion plan. Each session will be a facilitated discussion of selected chapters, led by a member of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. Openly and honestly communicate with everyone. An effective group discussion can lay the groundwork for action and real community change. Ground rules help a group start and maintain aproductive discussion. This group is not intended as "Diversity 101" training. Discussion is a powerful mechanism for active learning; a well-facilitated discussion allows the participant to explore new ideas while recognizing and valuing the contributions of others. Is sometimes simply the obvious, or even the only, way to proceed. E.L.M.O stands for "Enough, let's move on" and can be established as a meeting rule to cut unnecessary discussions. Now, just to be clear: We are not saying that conflict is good per se. In order to do so, it is important to consider the features of effective discussions, and conditions that promote small group interaction and engagement. Steinert, Y. Services. Normally, we do this in reverse. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTED TIPS AND GROUND RULES: 4 IDENTITY AND PLACE. Be prepared to contribute to achieving the meeting goals. Debriefing can help adjust teaching styles, indicate areas that need more work or revisiting in the future, and provide valuable feedback for all involved. If such conflicts are left ambiguous, they may cause continuing trouble. ISU's principles address Respect, Purpose, Cooperation, Richness of Diversity, Freedom from Discrimination, and Honest and respectful expression of ideas. Create a strategic plan for an initiative, an advocacy campaign, an intervention, etc. Those rules were and still are necessary for. "Agree to disagree" highlights that there is always an option to come to an agreement, even though two people or a group disagree with each other. Scheffert, D., Anderson, M., Anderson, S., et al. These Ground Rules are not static and continue to be refined over timeparticularly as we seek to decenterexpectations of "comfort" andsilence asstrategies for non-engagement. Keep discussions focused. If participants are asked to read something, consider questions, complete a task, or otherwise prepare for the discussion, make sure that the assignment is attended to and used. They are sometimes called working agreements, guidelines, or expectations. Step back when a group is functional/functioning help participants become independent learners; take control of their learning. Create space in class for students to discuss in small groups. Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), Clarke University Tips for Managing Conflict, UC Berkeley Resolving Conflict Situations, Group Dynamics for Teams by Daniel Levi, Chapter 7: Managing Conflict, TeacherVision: Conflict Resolution Activities, Conflict Resolution Activities: Effective Ideas for Classrooms, KidsHealth in the Classroom: Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Activities, The Big Book of Conflict Resolution Games: Quick, Effective Activities to Improve Communication, Trust, and Collaboration, Conflict Management Exercises and Activities to Use With Your Team, Sesame Street: Helping Kids Resolve Conflicts, Conflict Resolution: Using the Interest-Based Relational Approach. Participate to the fullest of your ability community growth depends on the inclusion of every individual voice. Meeting rule to cut unnecessary discussions or expectations easier to find a common ground support and communicate with each.. 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