I had just spent 30 minutes on an activity today touting the joys and benefits of working in groups and responding to each other think. So I set them on their book work in groups, hoping for the best.
Within 15 minutes, a student - Jori- says to me, "He's not helping me and I find him very rude! I can't work like this." I walked over to Jori's table and see she is pointing at Don, a generally mild mannered student. Jori: He's being rude! I can't stand when people are mean for no reason. Me: Let me hear your perspective. What happened in your eyes? Jori: I asked him for help on a problem and he wouldn't help me. He said, "I'm not going to give you the answer" and looked away. Me: Okay, I hear your perspective. I'd also like to hear Don's- it might not be the same. Don: I thought she was just asking for the answer. I would help her understand but not just give an answer. Me: Sounds like we have a miscom-- Jori: That's not what I was saying! I wasn't even asking for the answer! I just wanted help understanding it. Me: okay, so I hear you- Do you see Don's perspective? Jori: I wasn't asking for the answer! (Jori appears she will cry at any moment now) Me: Don, do you understand that Jori was not asking for just an answer. Don: (disgruntled) I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings. I didn't mean to sound like that. Me: It looks like Jori has a great contribution to the group by asking a question, and Don, it looks like you might have some progress. Let's talk this out. I watched them ask and explain the question before I walked away. I checked in with them 10 minutes later and they were conversing through the problem set as if nothing had happened. This is my SECOND piece of evidence (in my book) that has shown me that conflict resolution has better effects that splitting groups that don't work well together initially. *Names changed
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