Name Iram Shahzadi

Subject Edu 401

Student id Bc200414454
 Contemporary Issues and Trends in Education (EDU401)
Assignment No.

Question 1: (a)
Explain any three strategies for classroom conflict management with concrete examples.
(5*3=15 marks)

Answer:
Conflict Management
Conflict management is the process by which disputes are resolved, where negative
results are minimized and positive results are prioritized. Conflict management, when done
properly, can even increase the learning in the classroom through the questions asked during the
process.
According to communication experts, there are five distinct conflict management strategies.
Everyone usually naturally prefers one or two of the strategies over the others, but there are
certain benefits to using each of them.
 Avoiding Conflict Management Strategy
 Competing Conflict Management Strategy
 Accommodating Conflict Management Strategy
 Compromising Conflict Management Strategy
 Collaborating Conflict Management Strategy

Avoiding:
Avoiding aims to reduce conflict by ignoring it, removing the conflicted parties, or
evading it in some manner. Team Students in conflict can be removed from the project they are
in conflict over, deadlines are pushed, or people are even reassigned to other departments.
This can be an effective conflict resolution style if there is a chance that a cool-down period
would be helpful or if you need more time to consider your stance on the conflict itself.
Avoidance should not be a substitute for proper resolution, however; pushing back conflict
indefinitely can and will lead to more (and bigger) conflicts down the line.
Example:
Javid and Ikram have been collaborating on the new design for weeks. The deadline is
looming and they are increasingly unable to agree on changes.

The deadline is pushed back and they both are given the day to work on other projects. The space
to take a break from each other, as well as the extra time to complete their project, allows them
to cool down and resume in a more collaborative mindset.

Competing:
Competing rejects compromise and involves not giving in to others viewpoints or wants.
One party stands firm in what they think is the correct handling of a situation, and does not back
down until they get their way.
Competing can be in situations where morals dictate that a specific course of action is taken,
when there is no time to try and find a different solution or when there is an unpopular decision
to be made. It can resolve disputes quickly, but there is a high chance of morale and productivity
being lessened.
Example:
Sidra is the head of Physics department. Within her staff, she has been dealing with
several conflicts. First, Kamran and Karim could not agree on where to hold the annual team-
building activity, she stepped in and decided that the department would do an escape room.

Accommodating
Accommodating is about simply putting the other parties needs before one's own. You
allow them to ‘win’ and get their way.
Accommodation is for situations where you don’t care as strongly about the issue as the other
person, if delaying the conflict is not worth your time, or if you think you might be wrong.
Accommodating is about keeping the peace, not putting in more effort than the issue is worth,
and knowing when to pick battles.
While it might seem somewhat weak, accommodation can be the absolute best choice to resolve
a small conflict and move on with more important issues. This style is highly cooperative on the
part of the resolver but can lead to resentment.

Example:
In classroom, the colors for the new gadget are being discussed. Ali is adamant that
choice A is the best choice. Bisma thinks that choice B is slightly better, but decides to let Ali
choose the colors, to avoid arguing about two choices that she thinks are both fine.

Question 1: (b)
Briefly explain three negative impact of school conflicts (5 marks)
The conflicts negatively influence the personal image of some teachers, and even creates
isolation for some of them; also, create demotivation and lack of interest for the school issues,
nervousness and an unfriendly atmosphere in the teacher’s room, manifestation of professional
vanity etc.
Negative impact of school conflicts
Mental Health Concerns
Decrease in Output
Violence

Answer:
Mental Health Concerns:
Conflict within a school can cause Students to become frustrated if they feel as ifthere’s
no solution in sight, or if they feel that their opinions go unrecognized by other group Students.
As a result, Students become stressed, which adversely affects their professional and personal
lives.
Research suggests that depression is associated with lower grade point averages, and that co-
occurring depression and anxiety can increase this association. Depression has also been linked
to dropping out of school. Many college students report that mental health difficulties interfere
with their studies.

Decrease in Output:
 When school spends much of its time dealing with conflict, students take time away from
focusing on the core goals of study they are tasked with achieving.
Conflict causes Students to focus less on the studies work at hand and more on gossiping about
conflict or venting about frustrations.

Violence:
When conflict escalates without mediation, intense situations may arise, between students
or among teachers. It’s unfortunate, but school conflicts may cause violence among Students,
resulting in legal problems for Students and possibly the school.
School violence is a complex phenomenon determined by family school failure, weak attachment
to school, nonattendance, frequent change of school, behavioral problems, lack of academic
motivation, crime in the peer group, isolation from peers, conflicts with peers and social risk
factors poverty, disorganized family, community exposure to violence and racism.