ED 370/570 Winterim 2009 with Dr. Leslie O. Wilson

Webquests

 © Leslie Wilson

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Webquest

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Self & Peer Evaluation

Posting Dates to General Forum

Webquest 1 Jan 6-7th        Lederbach 1 Jan 9-11th        Webquest 2 Jan 13-14th        Lederbach 2 Jan 16-17th

A webquest is like an online scavenger hunt. This one has been set up to offer you some perspectives as to why humans are different, and how you might react in certain situations. There is an old Eastern adage that says, "No matter where you go, there you are." We all begin looking at any situation from the vantage point of "self," so that beginning perspectives are important to understand. Our understandings of others are often colored by our own perspectives and experiences, and it is from this vantage point that we will begin to look at journey into the world of conflict.

*Aspects listed in RED should be brought into your D2L discussions. Many of these prompts are posted in the dedicated discussion area.

Week 1

Exploring Personal Perspectives: One of things that is important for people in the public eye to realize is that not all perceptions are the same. Yes folks, not everyone will share your reality. Not only that, it would be a very boring world if everyone had the same views and ideas. And yet it is often these innate personal differences which cause conflict among humans. Simple basic differences like -

• Are you neat or messy?

• Is your music pumped up loud or turned down quiet?

• Do you need lots of structure and very explicit directions, or would you prefer to experiment and do your own thing?

• Do you like to make good decisions quickly, or do you need time to reflect before you act? 

• Does your environment have to be very organized, or can you live with a bit of chaos?  

So that you can begin to understand how the internal world of different humans impacts the external world of coexisting, communication, conflict and interpersonal relationships, I would like you to take two batteries -- a personality test based on the Myers/Briggs called the PLSI (Paragon) and the Kraybill Conflict Response Inventory off of Dr. Shaw's pages (see link below).

A. The Paragon Test is a web based test that will yield a 4 letter personality profile based on the MBTI (Myers/Briggs Typology Inventory) I or E, S or N, T or F, or J or P. Download and print the scoring sheet first (see the link in the test). * It is important to answer this test truthfully and from the gut, not the head. Don't angst or think about the answer overly much, and don't answer it like your mother or father would want you to. There are NO right or wrong answers. The profile will only be as accurate as you are honest with yourself.

The letters in the your profile will show how you like to be energized, attend (pay attention),decide, and live.

• EXTRAVERSION energizing INTROVERSION   Were you an E or an I?

• SENSING attending INTUITING                    Were you an S or a N?

• THINKING deciding FEELING                       Were you an T or a F?

• JUDGEMENT living PERCEPTION                  Were you an J or a P?

These letters stand for oppositional forces that form your personality preferences. These preferences give others hints as to your preferences in how you like to live and interact. They may be preferences that were modeled for you by others or they may be inherent and genetically predisposed, but in combination these are the things that make us who we are.

The Paragon test is a shortened version of the MBTI. There are many such tests. You may have taken the full battery of the MBTI at sometime, or another version by David Keirsey. The MBTI has a long and illustrious history and has been used for over 50 years in the business world to enhance interpersonal communications, and to place workers in positions where they will perform best. You may view my PowerPoints (Personality, and Differences between Js and Ps) on this and try to see if you can understand the importance of these personality differences and why teachers need to know about personality and related learning styles. Go to one of the following sites and see if you agree with the profiles offered. 

• My pages on MBTI - page 1, page 2, page 3,

• Don Clark's Pages on MBTI

• Keirsey's site - Collapses the 16 profiles into 4 types - see free links in the upper right hand corner

If you would like to know more about this theory, I would recommend one of these two inexpensive books. 

• Nardi, D. (2001) Multiple intelligences and personality type. Telos Publications.  or

• Keirsey, D. (1998) Please understand me II. Prometheus Nemesis Book Company  

B. Kraybill Conflict Response Inventory from Dr. Shaw's pages. Print and take the test. Read the polar descriptions and see which ones apply to you.

* In your small groups discuss the following and then bring it into the collective FORUM

Prompts -

·        On both batteries, reflect on what the profiles say about you and are there implications inherent in your descriptions that might lead to conflict with others? Any personal insights?

·        Any past situations come to mind?

·        Were your profiles very accurate, fairly accurate, not accurate at all?

·        Are there implications inherent in your descriptions that might lead to conflict with others.

·        Were there profiles that offered insights into parents, friends, siblings, or significant others, or of people you just don't like?

·        What might these typologies mean in understanding how you interact with others?

·        Are there things about other "types" that might cause you to have conflicts with the personality aspects of others?

·        Did the descriptions remind you of anyone you know? 

·        What can you take out of this exercise that might help you deal with students, peers, parents, administrators?    

Week 2

Approaches to conflict:  

• Beyond these simple definitions, see what you can find out about these programs. 

• Are any of these interesting to you? If so, why? Why not?

• Discuss your reactions and findings in your small groups.

According to the Education World Website there are 4 distinct approaches to conflict specifically designed for classroom use. See and print this page.

Education World’s overview of Four Approaches to Conflict Resolution

Process Curriculum. This approach is characterized by teaching conflict resolution as a separate course, a distinct curriculum, or a daily lesson plan.  

Mediation Program. This approach includes specialized training for selected individuals (either adults and/or students). Mediators are trained in the principles of conflict resolution and mediation in order to provide neutral third-party input and help facilitate others in reaching a amicable resolution to a conflict.

Peaceable Classroom. This approach integrates conflict resolution education into both the formal curriculum as well as into the teachers' classroom management strategies. See link below.

Peaceable Schools. The foundation for this approach is built on the Peaceable Classroom approach, but is more comprehensive as this program uses conflict resolution as a system for managing the entire school as well as the classroom. Every member of the school community, including parents, learns conflict resolution principles and processes. 

Source: http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr171.shtml

Peacemaking Circles – “This is a process that brings together individuals who wish to engage in conflict resolution, healing, support, decision making or other activities in which honest communications, relationship development, and community building are core desired outcomes. "Circles" offer an alternative to contemporary meeting processes that often rely on hierarchy, win-lose positioning, and victim/rescuer approaches to relationships and problem solving.”

Source: http://www.rocainc.org/pdf/pubs/PeacemakingCircles.pdf

Youth in Action - US Department of Justice - Mediation Training – Mediation is a process called whereby a person is trained as a mediator in order to help two (or more) people resolve a conflict or disagreement.

Source: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/178999.pdf

Positive Discipline – “A program that teaches important social and life skills, in a manner that is respectful to both the adults and the young people in the situation - raising young people to be responsible, respectful and resourceful members of their community. Based on the theory that children that have a sense of connection to their community (home, school) and those whose input is regarded as meaningful are less likely to engage in "mis" behavior. To be successful members of the community, children need to be taught the necessary social skills. It is based on the understanding that discipline must be taught and that discipline teaches.”

Source: This page has a downloadable PDF file

http://positivediscipline.cmiregistration.com/WhatisPositiveDiscipline.aspx