At the University of Texas in San Antonio, Professor of Communication Sara DeTurk is making strides in fostering civil discourse through innovative education programs. After becoming trained as a Coach through IF’s Collaborative Discussion Project (CDP), she recently integrated activities from IF’s free CDP Toolkit into her dialogue facilitation class–with transformative results for her students and the broader university community.
DeTurk’s Dialogue Facilitation Course
Professor DeTurk has been teaching the university’s dialogue facilitation course for some time, aiming to train students in facilitating structured dialogues and preparing them to lead discussions in a psychologically safe way within the university community–and beyond. Furthermore, she–along with her colleague Professor Laurie Lewis–recently co-founded the university’s Center for Dialogue and Deliberation, aiming to prepare students to engage in diverse perspectives, collaborate effectively in workplaces, and deliberate constructively in communities.
“We saw the need for our UTSA students to master skills in listening and participating in dialogue in order to gain better understanding of others who do not always share their world views and experiences.” (Source)
While they are distinct initiatives, Sara explains that the Center is a natural extension of the work she was already doing–“I had been working on these kinds of dialogues with various campus diversity programs, but the Center gave us the chance to formalize and expand that work into something more cohesive.”
Within her long-running dialogue class, each week one to two students facilitate a 20-minute dialogue on a controversial topic amongst their classmates–whether that’s work-life balance, democracy, or language politics. The sessions are followed by a debrief and journal reflection, supporting students in processing their experiences and continually building on their facilitation skills.
In 2024, Sara used several of the free Collaborative Discussion Toolkit’s activities to support her class: “The Toolkit activities accounted for about 30-40% of the course and stood out, because they weren’t just about facilitating formal dialogues”, she says. “They encouraged students to think about how they could apply these skills in their personal lives.”
The CDP Toolkit is arranged into five units full of easily adaptable activities that can be used in a range of education and workplace contexts, and in this case Sara selected activities from each of the Toolkit’s first four units. “I focused on activities around identity, values clarification, and listening,” she adds, “because these aligned best with the goals of my course.”
The CDP Toolkit in Action
The Collaborative Discussion Toolkit became an integral part of the course structure, not just for its practical value but also for the personal insights its activities offered. “The Toolkit helped me realize that even people with vastly different political views share core values like freedom or equality—it’s just that these values manifest differently depending on context,” Sara reflects. This personally transformative realization, drawn from the “Understanding Values in Context” activity, inspired her to emphasize similar moments of discovery for her students.
Students’ reactions to the Toolkit’s activities were overwhelmingly positive. “They enjoyed working in pairs and small groups, negotiating different realities and values,” notes Sara. One student reflected in the journal she used to complement the course that thanks to the CDP Toolkit activities, she improved greatly as a listener–demonstrating the personal growth facilitated by the exercises.
“It was fun because my students were so into it.”
However, the course didn’t stay within the classroom walls. Students also participated in the Center for Dialogue and Deliberation’s university-wide dialogues, leading discussions on topics as sensitive as mental health and Israel-Palestine. These events, often attended by 40 or more participants, created spaces for meaningful conversation on campus.
Sara recalls one student who practiced facilitating a dialogue with her family before leading the same discussion in class. “She said the experience had a deep impact on her family’s ability to communicate about a sensitive issue,” Sara adds.
Integrating a Badge Program
As part of the course, students earned a badge and certificate of completion issued by the Interactivity Foundation, which the college administration recognized as an official credential. Sara also consulted with the CDP team to structure the certificate program effectively, ensuring it aligned seamlessly with her course goals. “It was exciting to offer students a badge that was externally validated,” Sara says. While the badge itself wasn’t the primary motivator for many students, they found immense value in the skills and experiences gained through the course.
“It was fun because my students were so into it,” Sara reflects. “They were learning a lot about themselves and building listening skills. The Toolkit’s activities were particularly impactful in terms of students’ personal lives, fostering growth in how they engaged with friends, family, and peers.”
Looking Ahead
With the Center for Dialogue and Deliberation now officially established and plans to expand its activities, Sara sees tremendous potential for fostering dialogue through both the Center and her courses. Starting January this year, the Center has a dedicated space on campus, serving as a hub for dialogue and deliberation initiatives.
Reflecting on the broader impact of workshops designed using the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit, Sara concludes, “Programs like this meet a real need at a time when civil discourse is a national priority. It’s about creating spaces where people feel seen and heard, where they can negotiate their differences and build understanding. This work is transformative, not just for the students, but for the entire community.”
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News post about the opening of the Center for Dialogue and Deliberation at UTSA: https://research.utsa.edu/news/2024/05/new-center-for-dialogue-and-deliberation-opens.html
Start Using the CDP Toolkit
The Collaborative Discussion Toolkit is free and accessible to anyone interested in promoting inclusive, thoughtful dialogue. If you’d like to learn more, consider signing up for a workshop or reach out to us.
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