Teaching Assistants' Training Program

Majd Zouda, TATP Social Sciences Trainer

Conflict is an inevitable part of our lives. However, how a conflict may unfold largely depends on our views and approaches to conflict. In academia, TAs and graduate students are usually under high pressure for productivity, performativity, critical and intellectual competition (among others). In this intense environment, intellectual and professional interpersonal conflicts are a common source of anxiety and stress, particularly when they exhibit consistent difficult patterns. How can we constructively handle and negotiate these conflicts and steer them toward productive patterns? In this Brown Bag Lunch session, we will engage in reflecting on our experiences with conflicts in teaching and learning, and discuss common types of academic conflicts and their possible underlying causes. We will also explore possible tools to establish a positive pre-conflict atmosphere for teaching and learning, and share some strategies to constructively handle these conflicts.