Gordonstoun School's online workshops in art of dialogue to help students succeed in post-Covid world of work
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GORDONSTOUN School will host a virtual symposium this weekend to teach senior students from Moray and around the UK the art of successful dialogue, particularly online.
Online meeting tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet have become part of everyday life and are likely to be here to stay as people work differently post-coronavirus.
However, recent weeks have seen the fallout from poor dialogue skills, most notably at Handforth Parish Council when its chaotic and ill-tempered Zoom meeting left members of the public shaking their heads.
Gordonstoun principal Lisa Kerr said: "Handforth Parish Council’s meeting revealed an adversarial and unproductive approach to proceedings which is sadly all too common in modern public debate.
"With role models like that, we are in danger of leaving the next generation ill-equipped with the skills for respectful negotiation too.
"Many schools have debating societies but this only teaches students how to advance their own viewpoint and win an argument.
"In order for society to advance, the next generation needs to know how to listen and reach the best outcome for all. This is why we have a Dialogue Society at Gordonstoun and why we are holding the second Dialogue Symposium which is open to schools around the UK.
"Having welcomed students to Gordonstoun for our inaugural symposium in 2019, this year’s will focus on online dialogue, reflecting how much of our work is now done digitally. We believe this is an important skill which needs to be developed."
The symposium will take place online from Saturday, March 6.
Keith Grammar School is one of those whose pupils will be attending.
Keith history teacher Craig Clow said: "The symposium in 2019 was a valuable opportunity for our students to broaden their outlooks. Meeting people from so many different backgrounds and with such a wealth of differing stances on so many topics was very exciting for them on its own.
"Also, having only really engaged with debate as opposed to dialogue, the chance to approach discourse using a totally new approach opened the door to many possibilities for them once they returned home."
The three-day event will be led by Gordonstoun teacher James Smith. He has a Masters degree in peace and conflict and was part of the UN peacekeeping mission to Haiti.
Mr Smith said: "The art of dialogue is very different to the art of debate.
"It is not about winning an argument but about critical thinking and understanding your opponent’s point of view so that you can reach the best outcome for all. This requires listening and empathy – essential skills which will help these students throughout their lives."
Ms Kerr added: "We believe that dialogue skills are every bit as important in education as French or physics and we want to make sure that as many young people as possible can learn these skills.
"We now have to pull together to rebuild after the pandemic and successful dialogue will be key to keeping the nation unified and focused in its response."
