Wed, Sep 29, 2004
Creative Problem Solving Webquest
In this Creative Problem Solving webquest by Farida Pawan, you are invited to experience several unique techniques to solve problems. Give the techniques a try and be ready to be surprised by where your creativity will take you!Ü
1. Problem Reversal
2. Forced Relationships
3. Metaphors
4. Six Thinking Hats
5. Assumption Smashing
6. Lotus Blossom
Links to these exercises have been moved. See them at http://members.optusnet.com.au/~charles57/Creative/Techniques/. The links in original webquest no longer work, but the overall structure of the learning experience is still good.
Look Who’s Footing the Bill - Webquest on Democracy and the National Debt
Tom March, one of the early pioneers of the WebQuest format, has developed this exploration of the national debt. A WebQuest that is very appropriate for our times.
Sun, Sep 26, 2004
UNIFEM Portal on Women, Peace and Security
The WomenWarPeace.org portal provides information and tools to help reduce the costs of conflict for women worldwide. WomenÌs protection in armed conflict and their centrality to conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace building is a primary concern of the international community. Yet the deliberate killing, rape, mutilation, forced displacement, abduction, trafficking and torture of women and girls continue unabated in contemporary armed conflicts. As soldiers, as refugees, as survivors of landmine incidents and sexual violence, women experience conflict differently than men.
For almost ten years, the United National Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), in co-operation with governments, other United Nations bodies, international and national organizations and non-governmental partners, has assisted women in conflict situations and supported their participation in peace processes. This work is guided by international humanitarian and human rights standards. UNIFEM provides strategic and catalytic support to mainstream gender and to support womenÌs participation in all efforts to build peace and resolve conflicts.
Tue, Sep 21, 2004
Collaborative Learning - Small Group Learning Pages
The site support collaborative learning methods on campus. (The major how-to information is found in the “Doing CL” section noted below.) Collaborative Learning (CL) encourages active student participation in the learning process. It encompasses a set of approaches to education, sometimes also called cooperative learning or small group learning. CL creates an environment “that involves students in doing things and thinking about the things they are doing”,Üand reaches students who otherwise might not be engaged. Finally, CL is one teaching strategy among many, each of which can play a role to make learning an active and effective process.
There are five sections:
Stories
Stories from teachers from many disciplines describing the CL implemented in their classrooms, divided into Large and Small Class stories.
Doing CL
A section devoted to group dynamics and CL techniques.
Resources
This section contains an Annotated Bibliography on small group instruction, a list of experts in CL willing to answer your questions or act as a sounding board, the SMET meta-analysis conducted by the College Level One (CL-1) team, web sites devoted to CL, other CL resources, and more.
More Info
More information on CL such as what is CL, does CL really work (it does!), how to set up groups, and comments by students on CL. FAQs Some thoughts addressing colleagues’ real concerns about CL and whether it’s right for them.
Online Labor-Management Glossary
The Federal Office of Personnel Management has developed an online Labor-Management Relations Glossary. It contains links explaining the terms. Throughout the glossary, links have been provided to specific FLRA cases, U.S. Code, and the Code of Federal Regulations. Additional information on FLRA cases and U.S. Code can be found on FLRA’s Web site at http://flra.gov ; and on the Code of Federal Regulations at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html .
Sun, Sep 19, 2004
PeaceTalks Radio - Online Archives
Every day we are bombarded with news of murder, death, rape, crime and war.Ü Only rarely do we hear stories about people rising above violence and hatred to resolve conflicts.Ü PEACETALKS wants to change that.
PEACETALKS has created a series of radio programs about people finding unique, creative and uplifting ways of moving beyond violence.Ü It explores in-depth issues, ideas and practices that are at the heart of the global struggle for peace and justice. Their latest radio special, Reaching for Peace in the Holy Land, is hosted by Walter Cronkite. Other issues covered include healing from the fishing disputes in Burnt Church, Canada, reconciliation between native americans and democratic governments they helped found, and peacetalk stories from Northern Ireland, Vietnam and South Africa.
Thu, Sep 16, 2004
Classroom Simulations from USIP
The United States Institute for Peace has developed a set of classroom simulations on various world conflicts. According to their introduction, these “Simulations are educational exercises that provide students the opportunity to role-play the concerns of stakeholders in a given scenario. Students will gain greater insight into the dynamics of peacemaking, and will be better able to raise pertinent questions and concerns. The simulations included here enable participants to practice the skills of conflict management, and to test policy options to determine the preferred response to a given set of circumstances.”
Here are the available simulations as of this posting date:
The Cambodia Peace Settlement
Participants role-play negotiators at a peace settlement conference, where, due to international pressure, the Cambodian government has agreed to negotiate with opposition leaders over implementation of a peace settlement and past accountability for genocide and war crimes.
The Case of “Palmyra”
This simulation focuses on a conflict in the territory of “Palmyra” in the fictional country of “Siwa.” The aim of the simulation is to demonstrate for the participants some of the challenges facing peacemakers in their efforts to resolve violent international conflicts.
Colombia: U.S. Response to the Changing Nature of International Conflict
For the purpose of this exercise, students will be simulating the United States government as it confronts a deteriorating situation in Colombia as a way to deepen their understanding of international relations, U.S. foreign policy, and conflict resolution.
Conflict Prevention in the Greater Horn of Africa
Students will participate in a simulation of the ad hoc OAU committee that the secretary general of the Organization of African UnityÛDr. Salim Ahmed SalimÛhas organized to deal with the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
This simulation focuses on a U.S.-led effort to bring together many elements of both Israeli and Palestinian society to hold discussions about the needs and interests of both sides before entering into formal negotiations.
Northern Ireland: One Step at a TimeÛThe Derry March and Prospects for Peace
The simulation deals with a specific issue in the Northern Ireland conflict: that of the marches which serve as a microcosm of the larger conflict between Catholics and Protestants.
The Paris Peace Talks of December 1972ÒJanuary 1973
This simulation focuses on a brief phase in the Paris Peace Talks when the U.S., North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the Soviet Union are meeting in Paris to salvage peace in Vietnam.
Peacekeeping in Kashmir: An American Choice
This simulation focuses on a meeting of the U.S. National Security Council debating the possible use of peacekeeping forces on the ground in Kashmir. In this fictional case, the U.S. government must consider a peace proposal negotiated between India, Pakistan, and China and put forward by a former U.S. assistant secretary of state acting as mediator.
Sri Lanka: Setting the Agenda for Peace
Students will simulate the meeting in Geneva to explore possibilities for the resolution of the Sri Lankan conflict and the subsequent reconstruction of Sri Lankan society.
The Use of Force in Chechnya: An Exploration through Track-Two Diplomacy
This simulation focuses on the conflict in Chechnya and provides an opportunity to take part in a problem-solving workshop involving Russian and Chechen representatives of civil society.
Tue, Sep 14, 2004
Campus Mediation Powerpoint - Transformative Justice: Using mediation within our traditional discipl
A powerpoint slide show used for a presentation by Michael Walsh for the Northwest Association of College and University Housing Officers, February 29 2000
TITLE: Transformative Justice: Using mediation within our traditional disciplinary systems.
ABSTRACT: This session will describe the different types of alternative resolution methods, focusing on mediation. Mediation will be fully explained. Actual case studies will be used to illustrate how mediation can be used in a disciplinary setting. Participants will be shown an example of how mediation was written into the Code of Student Responsibility at a Northwest School and why its use is considered “Transformative Justice.”
©Copyright 2000 by Michael Walsh, Western Oregon University.
Mon, Sep 13, 2004
Peace Tools for Teachers - This Day in Peace and Justice History
The folks at the San Antonio Peace Center believe that “Violence is a learned behavior, and so is nonviolence. Peace is revealed to the world through peaceful people. There are growing circles of individuals and organizations who continue to commit and re-commit themselves to a larger and more focused vision of peace and nonviolence in our city and beyond.”
To help support peace and nonviolence, the Center has a page of Peace Tools for Teachers that includes This Day in Peace and Justice History. This is a list of events cued to specific dates. Currently containing more than 700 entries, it is being added to constantly. It is available both as a web page and as an Excel spreadsheet.
Other tools for teachers include a nice variety of sample activities.
Fri, Sep 10, 2004
Hear Nobel Peace Prize Speeches on “Nobel Peace Radio”
Nobelprize.org has developed a nice online collection of historic speeches at Nobel Peace Radio. Here, you can listen to twenty Prize Winners or representatives of the prize winning organizations, through recordings dating from 1937Ò1979. Unlike oldtime raido, pictures of the speaker are included!
Thu, Sep 09, 2004
Pop Ballad - Mediation: A Way of Life
This Pop Ballad entitled Mediation: A Way of Life by John Vestano focuses on mediation as an empowering approach to handling conflict. You can listen to the first minute of the 4 minute song online, or download the entire piece for $1.25.
Song Lyrics
Come together Ò for a balancing of our lives
Come together Ò we can more than simply survive
When the marriage ends Ò long lost friends
And kids that are often confused
Invite your soul to take control
And taste what a family can do
Come together Ò for a balancing of our spirit
Come together Ò we can close our eyes to reveal it
With the elements Ò malcontents
And thoughts that are floating outside
ItÌs time to smile and reconcile
The words that are easy to find
Mediate Ò together we create
A place for us thatÌs better than we started
Grow as one Ò you lead Ò I follow Ò we run
We climb together stronger than we used to
Come together Ò for a balancing of our hearts
Come together Ò itÌs a time for us to start
Let us all begin Ò all join in
Learn to be people of peace
Walk together Ò walkinÌ our own road
In parallel unity
Come together Ò itÌs a powerful way of life
Come together Ò eliminate the strife
If youÌre ready to start Ò start right now
Slow down the pace and listen
Take my hand Ò IÌm right beside you
Allow the bond to deepen
Mediate Ò together we create
A place for us thatÌs better than we started
Grow as one Ò you lead Ò I follow Ò we run
We climb together stronger than we used to
Song Credits
Performance Credits
Lead Vocals: John Vestano
Backup Vocals: Lisbeth Scott
Programming: Lee Cureri
Synthesizers/Samplers: Lee Cureri
WIPO Comes To Silicon Valley/Dispute Resolution For The 21st Century: The WIPO Arbitration And Media
This 54-minute streamed video presents a talk by Scott Donahey entitled “WIPO Comes To Silicon Valley/Dispute Resolution For The 21st Century: The WIPO Arbitration And Mediation Center” The talk was presented by theÜLaw, Science & Technology project at Stanford Law School on May 17, 2004. The powerpoint slides from the presentation are also available here. The speaker Mr. Donahey is an experienced international arbitrator. He is accredited as an Arbitrator of the American Arbitration Association, the WIPO Arbitration Center Panel of Arbitrators, the CPR Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, the Center for International Dispute Resolution, and many regional and national panels of international arbitrators. In 1999, Mr. Donahey received the President’s Award from the National Patent Board for Outstanding Service in the field of ADR. Mr. Donahey is Adjunct Professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, and the Golden Gate University School of Law, where he teaches courses in Law & Technology, and in International Dispute Resolution. Requires Real Player.
Tue, Sep 07, 2004
International Children’s Digital Library
Read free children’s books online at the International Children’s Digital Library, a project of the University of Maryland and the Internet Archive. While reading books requires a free downloadable plugin, the results are very nicely presented. The whole site is attractive to look at and filled with great cover art from books in many languages. The current collect offers 531 different books.
Eisenhower-era “Atoms for Peace” Film
This 17-minute film entitled Atoms for Peace extols the virtues of nuclear power and the need for America to lead the way in spreading the use of nuclear energy. Makes the case for peaceful applications of “nuclear science” (atomic energy) in industry, medicine and botany. Produced with the cooperation of Encyclopedia Britannica Films, Inc. Paramount News, U.S. Information Agency and U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Somehow the “safe” use of nuclear power demonstrated doesn’t look so safe in hindsight…
Wed, Sep 01, 2004
Online Portrait Icon Maker
You can definitely waste some time using this fun online portrait maker. You choose from existing parts for hair, mouth, eyes, etc. and then move them around and color them until it looks just right, or until it’s time to stop procrastinating!
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