Course Description

Learning how to pivot around arguments and de-escalate potential conflicts are core skills for ensuring your classes are orderly and students remain focussed on their learning. In this innovative course, Glen Pearsall and Miles Campbell explore an array of practical strategies for dealing with argumentative behaviour and provide participants with specially designed AI chatbots on whom they can practice these strategies. By the end of the course participants will have:

• Examined techniques for quickly and quietly redirecting off-task students back to their learning without provoking arguments. 

• Explored how to use partial agreement to address students who use denial to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. 

• Learned how to deal with students who try to distract you or use delaying tactics when they are given instruction to get back to their work.

• Discussed how to sensitively support students who ‘can’t behave’ - whilst also reiterating your expectations about appropriate classroom behaviour.

• Investigated strategies for reframing issues when you are dealing with adamant students who have entrenched positions and are aggressively advocating their wrong-headed point-of-view. 

Participants will have also had an opportunity to practice employing these strategies with custom-built AI students who have been designed to employ common rhetorical tactics seen in classroom conflicts. This is a world-first use of AI and provides teachers with a rare chance to hone their skills for dealing with challenging behaviour in a safe environment.  

Audience

All teachers looking to develop new classroom behaviour strategies.

Teaching Standards

4.3.2 Proficient Level - Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments - Manage challenging behaviour:  Manage challenging behaviour by establishing and negotiating clear expectations with students, and address discipline issues promptly, fairly and respectfully