Can’t we just talk about it? Practicing dialogue in a polarized era*

Talking to people who disagree with you is important but uncomfortable. The goal of this immersive course is to practice having those conversations, and to identify what works and what doesn’t. Students will (1) collectively define a list of topics that they want to talk about, (2) assign background materials for their peers, (3) design formats for dialogue, (4) practice having difficult conversations, and (5) reflect on what works and what doesn’t. We will explore lessons from restorative circles, structured dialogue, appreciative inquiry, and mediation studies. This credit/no-credit course is led by a mix of students and faculty.