A collaborative partnership between the Department of Communication Studies
at California State University, Northridge and Grant High School.

Bridging Difference/Building Community

In Option 1: Bridging Difference/Building Community, CSUN students facilitate weekly sessions addressing issues such as stereotyping, ethnocentrism, cultural awareness, immigrant histories and conflict resolution.  Preparation of CSUN students for their facilitator/mentor roles at the high school includes knowledge-based content and communication-based skills that are introduced through orientation sessions, classroom lectures and learning activities

Weekly Session Overview

Session #1: Introduction Focus Groups

·        Explain Communicating Common Ground Partnership

·        Ice breaker- Scavenger hunt

·        Small groups: Students fill out questionnaire

·        Small group discussion

Session #2: Stereotypes

·        Icebreaker

·        Stereotyping exercise

·        Focus on gender and ethnic/racial stereotyping

·        Discussion: How do we challenge stereotypes

Session #3: Peer Pressure

·        Icebreaker

·        Personal experiences of CSUN students

·        Video

·        Exercise/Discussion

Session #4: Cultural Awareness and Identity

·        Identity exercise: Standing up according to group identification

·        What does it mean to be a member of a group?

·        Divide into groups to discuss positive aspects of this group identity

·        What are you proud of? What do you never want to hear?

·        From Pride to Prejudice/From Prejudice to Pride

Session #5: Personal Histories and Intercultural Relations

·        Icebreaker

·        Demonstration of sharing personal histories

·        Student interviews

·        Student presentations

·        Mapping of geographic locations

·        History and culture game

Session #6:  Issues of Power and Privilege

·        Icebreaker

·        CSUN students role play a discussion on power

·        Questionnaire on power

·        Small group Discussion

·        Power sculpture-What does it mean for groups/individuals to have power?

·        Collaborative exercise that leads to sense of empowerment

Session #7: Managing Conflict

·        Conflict  Role Play

·        Group Scenarios

·        Discussion of conflict resolution options

Visit to CSUN:

·        CSUN students will make arrangements for Grant HS students to visit the campus.  Tour and activities planned and facilitated by CSUN students.

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Send mail to Dr. Kathryn Sorrells with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 Communicating Common Ground
Last modified: 01/20/05