TRANSCRIPT:
For South Carolina Public Radio, I'm Dr. Rénard Harris from the College of Charleston. This is Teachable Moments, a minute of education for students and parents.
Conflict resolution is one of the most valuable life skills students learn in school. Disagreements are an important part of collaborating as a team, and research shows that cognitive muscles are strengthened when students are exposed to ideas that challenge them to think differently.
Teachers can facilitate environments where students are outside of their comfort zone and still engaged in the discussion. However, recent research shows 3 in 10 teachers have changed their approach for fear of consequences.
My colleague, Mike Lee, professor of communication and host of the podcast “When We Disagree,” says exposure to different opinions can moderate how strongly we hold our points of view. Conflict can be stressful, but stress, like exercise, can be a growth opportunity.
For the College of Charleston, I’m Dr. Rénard Harris.
