EDUC 4826/ILRID 4826: Leading Dialogue Across Difference: Practicum in Intergroup Relations

Instructor: Dr. Adi Grabiner Keinan

Prerequisites: EDUC 2610 or department permission

4 credits. Letter grades only.

Offered: Fall & Spring

Visit the Class Roster for Course Times

Course Description

Through theoretical and experiential learning, students in EDUC 4826 will further develop knowledge and skills gained in EDUC 2610 for leadership across social, cultural, and political differences. Through weekly seminar sessions, students gain a working knowledge of scholarly literature drawn from the fields of critical intergroup dialogue, practice theory, social identity theory, and social justice education. Students learn about the theories and empirical evidence on why and how communication and collaboration across difference work. Moreover, through unique experiential learning opportunities in the classroom, students practice communication and collaboration across difference, as well as facilitation skills fundamental to leading intergroup dialogue processes.

Learning Outcomes

  • Communicate effectively across difference.
  • Demonstrate disciplinary knowledge of literature on critical dialogue.
  • Apply skills for leading individuals from different backgrounds within a multicultural society.
  • Demonstrate capability to mediate conflict through dialogue for mutual understanding.
  • Through critical reflection, examine how personal and group socialization connects with larger societal systems.

The intercultural skills gained in the course enable students to take on facilitative, leadership roles in a wide variety of settings. In addition to facilitating EDUC 2610, our trained facilitators also facilitate dialogue sessions for various students groups and departments, including Cornell Minds Matter, the Student Assembly, the Prefreshman Summer Program, Residential Advisors, and the Public Service Center, among many others.

Here’s what students have said about the course…

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I feel like this class, especially facilitating it, has opened me up to thinking more about the whole than just myself alone. This has been a large contributor in my ability to seek more human connection, and therefore has contributed greatly to my happiness. I also feel empowered, like the actions I take really can make a difference.

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I learned that for human connection to be fostered, you have to break through the surface level conversations to gain trust - whether is challenging each other, confiding in each other, or being vulnerable

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Being honest with myself and others leads to more happiness from myself, and a more genuine life with deeper connections.

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I never really understood the impact of a question (or lack of one) before facilitating and I hope that engaging with this idea of pushing for a deeper level of understanding through change is something that was beneficial for our students.

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Dialogue is more than just effective use of techniques. It requires a genuine interest to understand the other side and create new understanding.

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I learned that collaborative change is essential when we try to imagine a future that allows everyone to belong. It does not necessarily mean that everyone in a community needs to agree or move in lockstep towards a goal, but it does highlight the importance of bringing in the diversity of perspectives that exist within the community.

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It has been humanizing to reach out to peers I have never met before and try to have dialogues about difficult topics. It's been humanizing to receive training from highly educated professionals who want to see me be a good teacher and learner in the classroom. It's been humanizing to expand my personal work on campus to a program that cares about student engagement and connection making.

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I learned that collaborative change is a difficult, but attainable process that involves building connections across difference and developing coalitions of people from different backgrounds, who come together to solve issues that impact our community.

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I feel so much more empowered having conversations with students and facilitators about things we want to change and need to change. Hearing their perspective and ideas not only makes me feel less alone in life, but less alone in making change in the world.

Please contact Natasha Steinhall (nms68@cornell.edu) if you are interested in receiving an application for EDUC 4826.