Conflict Communication 396By TaNay Morris, Jamie Bronska,

Nicole Sadowski and Cole P. Griffin

“From Conflict comes growth…”

- Professor Wright-Dixon

Overview

• The need for this course

• Benefits of Conflict Communication

• Implementation Plan

• Cost and Resource Analysis

Bridging Gap

• Current gap exists between Interpersonal and Organizational Communication

• Conflict resolution for students

• Need for more hands-on-skills development

Greater Success in the Workplace

• Predominantly consists of juniors and seniors entering the workforce

• Workshops and in-class activities

• Hands-on experience resolving common conflicts

Mastering Theories by Applying Skills

Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)

Blake Mouton Managerial Grid

New Area of Research• This new course could inspire professors

in the department of communication to research the important topic of conflict

• New research and publication opportunities could mean more money and recognition for the department

• Resulting in satisfied department, professors, and students

Content Outline• Brief overview of conflict

related theories

• Trust

• Conflict in organizations

• Benefits of conflict

• Microaggressions/ Cultural Values/ Gendered communication

• Personality clashes

• Conflict and social media

• Forgiveness and reconciliation

• Putting it all together (Brief summary of what the students have learned)

• Hands on experience with UIUC theater group (Final project)

In class activity examples

• Fight or flight individual conflict style activity

• Final project with UIUC theater group

Implementation Plan

April 4th-15th, 2016

• Speak with Department Head, David Tewksbury

• Check for similar classes

• Pitch final idea to the Department Head, Associate Department Head, and Trina Wright-Dixon (Today)

Step 1

Implementation Plan

May 1st- August 15th, 2016

• Create the syllabus from the content outline

• Grading scale

• Points for in class activities

• Additional research for Professor Wright-Dixon or another qualified professor

Step 2

Implementation Plan

August 15th- October 16th, 2016

• Last-minute tweaks to syllabus

• Add to the University’s registration under communication courses

• If successful, becomes a permanent course

Step 3

Implementation PlanOngoing

• ICES reviews

• Student reviews of the course

• Improving the course

Step 4

Cost/Resource Analysis

• Cut back on resources needed for recruitment and hiring

• Win-win

Conclusion

• Small investment for long-term benefits (research, publications, and student value)

• 3 main benefits

• Already have competent instructors in place

• Highly encourage department to make our course available for Spring 2017

Conflict Managed

References• Ditewig-Morris, K. (2016, April 4).

• Harwood, S. A., Choi, S., Orozco, M., Browne Huntt, M., & Mendenhall, R. (2015). Racial microaggressions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Voices of students of color in the classroom. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

• Public University Administrator and Faculty Salary & Benefits Database. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://salarysearch.ibhe.org/search.aspx

• Tewksbury, D. (2016, April 4).

• Wright-Dixon, T. (2016, April 12)