Transforming Difficult Conversations Into Learning Opportunities

DrDave Derezotes, LCSW, PhD
david.derezotes@socwk.utah.edu 

10AM - 10:45

Rm 2753, Marriott Library
2nd floor, through the ProtoSpace area
In-person only

Many of our students want to have an opportunity to talk about the many difficult challenges in their world; such as racism, sexism, climate change, religious conflict, and political polarization. However, they often are afraid and do not yet know how to have a civil conversation about such topics. Many faculty sense this yearning and discomfort in our students, but do not yet have the dialogue skills themselves, to facilitate such conversations.

In this presentation, participants will learn how an instructor can transform those uncomfortable moments in the classroom into inclusive learning opportunities. We will spend a few minutes on theory, and the bulk of our time on experiential learning, using dialogue techniques in our own circle, to learn more about ourselves and about how to use dialogue as a teaching strategy. 

This workshop will not be recorded.