Teacher Training Course: Conflict Resolution through Mediation

Authors: Csilla M. Szabó

Abstract:

In Hungary, the society has changed a lot for the past 25 years, and these changes could be detected in educational situations as well. The number and the intensity of conflicts have been increased in most fields of life, as well as at schools. Teachers have difficulties to be able to handle school conflicts. What is more, the new net generation, generation Z has values and behavioural patterns different from those of the previous one, which might generate more serious conflicts at school, especially with teachers who were mainly socialising in a traditional teacher – student relationship. In Hungary, the bill CCIV of 2011 declared the foundation of Institutes of Teacher Training in higher education institutes. One of the tasks of the Institutes is to survey the competences and needs of teachers working in public education and to provide further trainings and services for them according to their needs and requirements. This job is supported by the Social Renewal Operative Programs 4.1.2.B. The professors of a college carried out a questionnaire and surveyed the needs and the requirements of teachers working in the region. Based on the results, the professors of the Institute of Teacher Training decided to meet the requirements of teachers and to launch short teacher further training courses in spring 2015. One of the courses is going to focus on school conflict management through mediation. The aim of the pilot course is to provide conflict management techniques for teachers and to present different mediation techniques to them. The theoretical part of the course (5 hours) will enable participants to understand the main points and the advantages of mediation, while the practical part (10 hours) will involve teachers in role plays to learn how to cope with conflict situations applying mediation. We hope if conflicts could be reduced, it would influence school atmosphere in a positive way and the teaching – learning process could be more successful and effective.

Keywords: Conflict resolution, generation Z, mediation, teacher training.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1106301

References:

[1] Sz. Varga: Az iskolai konfliktusok kezelésének létező és lehetséges módszerei, eljárásai – különöstekintettel a jogvédelem, jogorvoslat, jogérvényesítés gyermekjogi szintű követelményeire. http://www.gyermek.joghaz.hu/dokumentumok/Az_iskolai_konfliktusok _kezelese.pdf. (Downloaded: 23.12.2014.)
[2] L. Balázs (2013): Konfliktuskezelés és szervezeti magatartás. In: L. Balázs – Gy. H. Varga (edit.): A hatékony kommunikáció. Hungarovox Kiadó, Budapest. 38–49.pp.
[3] A. Tari (2014): A facebook sociálpszichológiája – a XXI. század fiatalja. In: Elek T. (edit): Összebeszélünk. Ifjúságügyi kongresszus. Konfereniakötet. Budapest: ISZT Alapítvány – Exeter Kutatóközpont. pp. 22-23.
[4] A. Oboegbulem, and I. A. Alfa, (2013): Conflict Resolution Strategies in Non-government Secondary Schools in Benue State, Nigeria. In: USChina Education Review. 2013, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 91-102.
[5] L. Balázs (2014): Az iskolai klíma hatása a tanulók teljesítményére. In: L. Balázs – T. H. Tomesz – Gy. H. Varga (edit.): A kommunikáció(s készségfejlesztés) tantárgyközi szereplehetőségei. Hungarovox Kiadó, Budapest. pp. 38–54.
[6] E. Figula (2004): Bántalmazókésbántalmazottakaziskolában. In: Új Pedagógiai Szemle Vol. 54. No. 7-8. pp. 223-228.pp.
[7] M. Prensky (2001): Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants I‐II. In: On the Horizon. MCB University Press, Vol. 9 No. 5. http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20- %20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf. (Downloaded: 28.12.2014.)
[8] J-L. Mutte (2004): Managing workers of the next decade. Expatica HR http://www.expatica.com/hr/hr-global-strategy/Managing-workers-ofthe- next-decade_20382.html (Downloaded: 27.06.2014.)
[9] N. R Heckenberg, R. McDuff, C. P. Smith, A. G. White (1992): Generation of optical phase singularities by computer‐generated holograms. In: Optics Letters. Vol. 17. No. 3. pp. 221-223.
[10] A. Tari (2011): Z generáció Budapest: TericumKiadó
[11] Families and Schools: Resolving Disputes through Mediation. http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED443228.pdf; (Downloaded: 23.12.2014.)
[12] Cs. Szabó: Kapcsolatdoktor Mediációs Iroda. www.kapcsolatdoktor.hu (Downloaded: 18.10.2012.)
[13] Arbitrations http://www.gvsu.edu/arbitration/michigan-mediation- 8.htm?gclid=Cj0KEQiAlISlBRDHpIekkMGiiskBEiQAh- 0KQGAKKCNCUi32w5j5Fac7NpyHd1nH44ulxP6NK58AnawaAucd8 P8HAQ .(Downloaded: 23.12.2014.)
[14] R. Cohen: Quick Guide to Implementing a Peer Mediation Program. http://www.schoolmediation.com/pdf/Quick-Guide-to-Implementing-a- Peer-Mediation-Program.pdf
[15] G. Simon: Mediáció az iskolákban. www.legitim.hu/legitim_mediacio_az_iskolaban.doc. (Downloaded: 30.11.2014)
[16] Zs. Nagy (2012): Mediátorképzés. Budapest.