Dialogue Across Difference Course Teaches Students Critical Skills for Listening and Understanding
In our current political climate, with so much division, learning how to listen, understand, and communicate across differences is now more important than ever.
CU Dialogues, a program of CU Engage, is offering a spring course for all CU Boulder undergraduate students: "Dialogue Across Difference."
"Dialogue is a form of communication that goes beyond ordinary conversation. Dialogue can defuse the polarization that characterizes much public discourse and generate understanding that can transform individuals, communities and institutions," explains Lilyana Ortega, CU Dialogues Program Instructor and Facilitator.
In this course, students will examine models of dialogic communication and theories of intergroup relations and consider how the practice of dialogue can build deeper understanding of self and others, reinvigorate democratic values and foster a more just and equitable society.
Students will develop leadership skills through learning about and practicing dialogue across difference in a collaborative classroom environment. Through hands-on experience participating in, observing, and leading dialogues students will learn how to facilitate dialogues among their peers in a variety of campus and community settings.
"The course provides practical facilitation training that equips students to be change-makers in any setting -- at CU, in their home communities, or in future workplace and community environments," says Karen Ramirez, CU Dialogues Co-Director.
This 3-credit course also fulfills a requirement for the Leadership Studies Minor. Please email Lilyana Ortega with any questions: Lilyana.Ortega@colorado.edu