Managing Conflict in Professional Contexts

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Demonstrate appropriate and ethical oral communication messages for given contexts and communicators to increase knowledge, foster understanding, and/or promote change.
• Analyze and evaluate messages according to context, audience, intent, and other principles of oral communication, to contribute to the ongoing development of knowledge and relationship.
• Analyze and compare models of mediation and facilitation.
• Apply mediation and facilitation techniques and practices through in class assignments.
• Examine the role of the facilitation process in transforming conflict.
• Demonstrate the development of professional communication skills.
• Plan and implement facilitation and mediation interventions.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Participation/Quizzes/Activities (SLO 1, 2, 3, 4)	20 points
Three Mediation role plays (SLO 1, 2, 4)	30 points (10 points each)
Facilitation role play (SLO 2, 3, 4, 5)	20 points
Mediation Paper SLO 1, 3, 4)	15 points
Facilitation & Mediation Paper (SLO 1, 3, 4, 5)	15 points
Total	100 points

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
94-100	A
90-93	A-
87-89	B+
83-86	B
80-82	B-
77-79	C+
73-76	C
70-72	C-
67-69	D+
63-66	D
60-62	D-
Below 60	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance and active participation are important to your success in this course. In this class, participation means showing up prepared for all classes. Being prepared means completing assigned readings and quizzes before you walk into the classroom, joining discussions and in-class activities, engaging in mediation and facilitation group role plays, and submitting your two reflection papers and other assigned work on time.

Regular attendance and engagement will strengthen your understanding of course concepts and support your skill development—how to listen, speak and respond with the skills that build and maintain healthy relationships and minimize destructive conflicts. These skills take time, so throughout the semester, you will have opportunities to improve your skills and grades through simulations, quizzes, and reflective papers.

You will see your skills grow and recognize that your consistent effort pays off over time. Missed classes or incomplete participation-related work can lower your final grade. If you need to miss class or are experiencing challenges, please discuss them with your instructor as soon as possible so together you both can determine the best path forward to support your success.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

• Beer, J., Packard, C., and Stief, E. (2012). The Mediator's Handbook, 4th edition. BC Canada: New Society Publishers. ISBN 9780865717220
• Kaner, S., Doyle, M., Kerney, K., Berger, D., & Lind, L. (2014). Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision Making, 3d edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN 978-1-118-40495-9