final praxis project

1. Choose a Conflict Tool we have studied in the second half of the course: either Dialogue Process (4 Phases); Circle Process; or Story Circles.
2. Choose a current relationship/group or context in which there is some issue or tension around which people have different perspectives. This is the current, real-life context in which you can apply this tool. This may be family members, friends, co-workers, or even several people within a group. (Note that you must apply the tool to a current, real-life setting in the coming days–this assignment is not about reflecting on past experiences or hypothetical future situations.)
3. Apply the tool to that current relationship or context. For example, if you are a faith-based group that is discussing whether someone who is gay may be a clergy member, you might choose to use the Dialogue Process to facilitate a dialogue on this topic, or to introduce a Story Circle at the start of a meeting as a way to identify different experiences related to the topic of discussion. Or, you might have someone in your life, such as a mother/father or daughter/son who you get into small or large conflicts with. In these relationships, you might use Circle Process, Dialogue Process, or Story Circle to address the tensions and conflict.
4. Write about how you applied the tool to that relationship or context. Use the DEAL model to:
   1. Describe the relationship or context; describe the tool in ample details; and discuss how you applied the tool. Describe who, what, when, and where.
   2. Examine the tool that you used through the lens of your experience. How did you feel about the experience? What assumptions or expectations did you bring? Did it work as you expected it would? How did your past experience impact this experience? How did power and privilege impact the experience? How does your experience connect to course readings about the tool?
   3. Articulate (your) Learning – In light of this experience applying the conflict tool to a real life conflict, what did you learn? What is the significance or meaning of what you learned? What would would have made the tool work better? What other types of relationships might this tool work on? Or not work on?

Use course readings to develop your thoughts and reflections, and cite relevant quotations to describe the tool and discuss your experiences.

When using quotations, place author’s last name, title, and page number of the quotation in parentheses after the quote. For example, “Relationships are arguably the single most important component in community-engaged change and conflict transformation” (Reimer, Transformative Change, p.54)

****Please note that steps 1 and 2 have already been completed, and the readings are not lengthy at all!****