Learning Opportunities

Civil Dialogue Focus

The Universities of Wisconsin are committed to teaching, sharing, and practicing civil dialogue at our universities and throughout Wisconsin. Civil discourse is characterized by robust, honest, frank, and constructive dialogue and deliberation. It involves individuals with diverse perspectives engaging in discussions to seek understanding and, at times, to advance the public interest. Importantly, civil discourse aims to achieve these goals without degrading or disrespecting each other’s beliefs in the process. There are many types and models of civil dialogue processes with no one “right” way to do it. Which approach to use depends on the issue, the setting, the participants, the stakeholders, the desired outcomes, and other factors. For this reason, WICCD only offers a small slice of potential tools, techniques, and trainings. Where WICCD cannot offer services, we will strive to link you to appropriate training and support. Contact WIPPS executive director Eric Giordano to discuss options.

60-90 minute in-person or webinar-style events

Free to participants but registration may be required. No limit to number of registrants. Available for any audience. Typically, a presentation followed by Q&A. Time length and topic open to request.

1. What is Civil Dialogue and Why Does It Matter?

• A broad overview of civil dialogue and an examination of underlying principles and effective examples, followed by a motivational call to action engage in civil discourse to be part of the solution to address disharmony and polarization in our communities and society.

2. Managing Conflict in the Classroom

• A presentation of the latest classroom management tools and techniques from Universities of Wisconsin instructors to address how to discuss difficult issues civilly and inclusive of viewpoint diversity.

3. Matching Dialogue Strategies to Goals

• There are dozens of dialogue strategies, but it is not always clear which to use under different circumstances. This module shares tools to analyze particular situations and relevant stakeholders in order to determine which processes are most likely to achieve outcome objectives.

4. Using Deliberative Dialogue to Address Wicked Problems

• Understand when, where and why to use deliberative dialogue, which is recognized as one of the most important best practice models to address complex community problems.

5. Principles of Ethical Communication – Interpersonal

• Learn the core principles and key steps of ethical communication to improve outcomes in a variety of interpersonal settings.

6. Principles of Ethical Communication – Group

• Learn the core principles and key steps of ethical communication to improve dialogue outcomes in a group setting.

7. Facilitator impartiality/neutrality

• Explore the benefits and challenges of neutrality and impartiality when facilitating dialogues

8. Capturing Dialogue Outcomes

• Learn skills and tools to improve notetaking and data collection in order to facilitate better analysis and reporting of dialogue outcomes.

9. Participatory Decision-making Techniques

• Learn tools to facilitate improved divergent and convergent thinking and improved decision-making in diverse group settings.

 

Half-day or full-day workshops

Highly interactive and experiential workshops of four to eight hours focused on select types of civil discourse. Please contact the WIPPS Executive Director for more details and options.

• In Person Only (no virtual option).
• Limited to 24 participants. 
• Refreshments provided
• Participants who complete the workshop receive a $100 stipend.
• Available as a single campus workshop or in concert with other UW universities or in partnership with non-university partners. 
• Limited funding is available for travel. (Non-UW students and personnel will not receive a participation or travel stipend and may incur fees.)

 

1. Group Facilitation for Beginners

• Learn the basics of best practices in facilitating groups including introducing effective ground rules; strategies for encouraging productive participation; managing disruptors and “quiet” participants; good notetaking; and matching goals, strategies and outcomes.

2. Advanced Group Facilitation

• Gain advanced intervention strategies and skills, including how to manage emotion and conflict; how to address challenging group dynamics; and how to effectively prepare for tackling tough issues in a group setting.

3. Deliberative Inquiry: Naming and Framing Issues

• Learn how to effectively gather information, develop background materials, and lay out controversial issues in order to support effective productive dialogue. Combines evidence-based research with value-based public perception to identify common ground and key points of tension.

4. Deliberative Inquiry: Effective Moderating

• Participate in a deliberative dialogue and experience how it differs from other types of dialogue. Learn the basics of the deliberative dialogue format (e.g., structure, timing, ground rules, personal stake, issue guide integration, key questions, and group reflection) and specific skills and techniques for effective moderation (e.g., courageous listening, paraphrasing, stacking, tracking, balancing, and effective notetaking, among others).

5. Deliberative Inquiry: Moving from Talk to Action

• Learn tools and processes to move from deliberation to organizing, initiating, and maintaining action on key issues, including the basics of collaborative process design for multiple stakeholder planning and decision-making.

6. Story Circles Workshop

• Participate in a live Story Circle and learn the purpose, principles, and key techniques for organizing and facilitating this unique practice. Learn how to integrate Story Circles into broader community problem-solving processes.

Free expression and/or academic freedom focus.

Engaging sessions facilitated by WICCD’s Interim Director Shiell and or designee/s. The terms “free expression” and “academic freedom” are used here to encompass all First Amendment rights. The First Amendment rights include freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, the right to petition, freedom of expressive association, and academic freedom. These freedom focused events typically address all or nearly all of these rights focusing primarily on the major principles and doctrines. Presentations and discussions will also address both legal and ethical factors. Other customized workshops, trainings, and presentations may be arranged upon request. Requests include aspects of citizenship, civil dialogue, expressive rights history, the justification for expressive rights, and more. Contact the WICCD director to discuss options.

 

No cost / payment offerings:

1. 60 -90 webinar-style event on topic of choice. Free to participants but registration may be required. Available for any audience. Presentation followed by Q&A. No limit on number of registrants.

• In-person or virtual classroom presentation.
• Time length and topic open to request.

 

Cost / payment offerings:

1. Two-hour workshop focused on campus free expression and academic freedom. Highly interactive session focused on real life scenarios including breakout groups for discussion. 

• Required pre-workshop preparation
• In-person option is limited to 24 participants (includes refreshments).
• Virtual option is limited to 16 participants
• Available for students or faculty/staff
• Can be hosted/organized by an individual university or in concert with other UW universities.
• Participants who complete the workshop receive a $100 stipend.

2. Eight-hour workshop focused on campus free expression and academic freedom. Starting off with the Morning introductory sessions the focus is on free expression/academic freedom history, major principles, and justifications. In the afternoon there are three sessions with highly interactive breakout groups discussing real life scenarios. 

• Limited to 24 participants
• Only offered in-person (No virtual option).
• Refreshments provided
• Participants who complete the workshop receive a $250 stipend.
• Available as a single campus workshop or in concert with other UW universities (multi-campus offering, participants who travel over 75 miles for the workshop receive an additional $150).