Constructivist Listening

There are many forms of dialogue between people. Among these are conversational, argumentative, informative, and give-and-take discussions. All of these are useful for sharing ideas and expressing feeling, to various degrees and outcomes. Constructivist listening is a form of communication where educators are encouraged to construct understanding while acknowledging their feeling.

The Dyad 

A dyad involves a listening and talking exchange between two people (a triad is sometimes formed in the case of an odd number of participants). It is the exchange of supportive, constructivist listening. Dyads are useful for examining experiences in depth. They help us as we work through confusing feelings that sometimes produce possibility, undermine confidence, or cause interference in relationships with students or colleagues.

The Support Group

The support group is a listening and talking exchange, useful for building a supportive community. The support group convenes for affixed amount of time that is divided equally among three to six individuals. Support groups help people listen to each other provide the safety necessary for looking honestly and talking authentically about difficult or sensitive equity issues.

The Personal Experience Panel

The personal experience panels provide an opportunity for three to five people to speak for about four to six minutes about their experiences relative to a particular topic. The purpose of the personal experience panel is:

• To empower the panelist
• To hear the stories of the participants
• To increase the listeners understanding of difficult issues
• To help us attach personal significance and commitment to a particular issue