Restorative Practices in Natural and Mathematical Sciences

Isolation during COVID and over-reliance on social media to form and maintain relationships have contributed to an epidemic of loneliness in our society. Social skills deficits with respect to resolving conflict, maintaining harmony in group settings, and exercising resilient leadership are causing drama inside and outside the classroom. At UMBC, we operate on the premise that restorative practices are a form of democratic dialogue and are about relationships within communities. This includes learning skills for being in a relationship with one another, understanding obligations based on community needs, and the responsibility to engage as a community to repair harm caused within those relationships.

This two-day workshop has been created specifically for faculty and staff in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. It will be facilitated by UMBC Restorative Practices and will focus on the restorative philosophy, building community, community standards-setting on campus, and facilitating circles.

View on Canvas Credentials

Earning Criteria

- Attend the full training (both days).
- Self-assess their confidence value at the 70% level for the five skills listed in the assessment rubric.

Additional Details

Learning Outcomes

- Recall foundations of restorative practices such as the social influence window, inclusive process, the psychology of affect, and Tomkinâs blueprint.
- Recognize how to use the restorative tools such as affective statements and restorative questions both proactively and responsively.
- Apply restorative foundations, scripts, and tools to be able to formulate strategies to address and resolve low-level conflicts.