Cultivating Social Cohesion through Conflict Transformation in Educational Environments

Teaching in our current times brings many new challenges that professors and students are navigating together. In the conflict resolution field, there are a variety of frameworks that may support fostering inclusivity in the classroom, though these elements still need to be discovered in mainstream academia and beyond. Several strategies will be shared that were implemented in classes, along with feedback from students, indicating a successful and inclusive atmosphere, even though a majority of the topics discussed were challenging. Developing effective strategies can transform a classroom. Active learning strategies can also create inclusive classrooms. In addition to the traditional challenges that students and teachers face, there are political challenges to what, how, and why specific topics are taught. Looking broadly and critically at these challenges may result in negotiating a collaborative process to actively create social cohesion within the classroom and beyond.