Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning is very important at WISR. Faculty continually collaborate with students to support each student’s purposes and learning efforts. Some students at WISR have more time and interest in collaborating with fellow students, and we respect these differences, even though we make conscious efforts to help and encourage students to find ways of meaningfully collaborating with one another, as well as with WISR alumni and our many friends in the larger community.

Recently, two students, who had been working for years in preserving the culture and history of the Omaha people, collaborated together on their entire PhD studies at WISR. Sometimes, two or three students will collaborate on one, or several, particular project(s) that they are working on in the pursuit of their WISR degrees.

Most recently, some students, faculty, alumni and friends of WISR have begun using blogs at “wisrville” ( http://wisrville.org ) to reach out to our whole community, and beyond our community, to solicit dialogue with others. From time to time, student-created study groups are contributing to learning. Moreover, we are always inviting students to make seminar presentations at WISR, so they can obtain feed-back from others and get ideas on how to further their projects and learning.

WISR’s University Chapter of the International Organization, Mediators Beyond Borders

WISR now has a university chapter of the international organization, Mediators Beyond Borders [MBB] (www.mediatorsbeyondborders.org). MBB international builds local skills for peace and promotes mediation worldwide, to build a more peace “able” world.

WISR’s MBB Chapter is also open to prospective students who have submitted their $600 enrollment fee. It is also open to WISR non-degree learners for a $100/year fee which gives them access to a blog on Wisrville (http://wisrville.org) and to membership in MBB, as well as participation in all WISR seminars and group learning activities (but not for academic credit). All members of the WISR learning community are invited to become a member of the WISR Chapter of Mediators Beyond Borders and get access to their own student membership in the National Organization of Mediators Beyond Borders

Those interested in learning more about conflict resolution on any level are invited to learn about mediation and conflict resolution in a very WISR-like way. Come and explore some possibilities and help us create a community of learners, share some great resources and have some lively discussions in the regular meetings of our MBB chapter.

“MBB University Chapters are groups of passionate and dedicated graduate level students who have come together to form a student organization to support and participate in MBB activities, goals, and projects. They are joined by faculty advisors and MBB Members who assist with educational and mentoring activities.
The main focus of MBB University Chapters is on educational activities in the local community, including raising public awareness of peace building processes and initiatives. University Chapters may also submit a proposal to the MBB Chapters Committee to research and create relationships with educational institutions and NGOs operating in another country.” (http://www.mediatorsbeyondborders.org/who/university_chapters.shtml )

Currently there are nineteen chartered MBB chapters in the worldwide, including WISR, Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Loyola Marymount and Ohio State Law Schools, Oregon State University, Southern Methodist University, Tulane, St. John’s and University of Pittsburg.