Teacher assessment of elementary school students' conflict resolution skills: An action research case study.

Abstract

Conflict resolution skills are becoming an integral part of the Ontario elementary school curriculum. The provincial report card lists "Conflict Resolution" as one of nine Learning Skills. Unfortunately, the curricula typically used to teach conflict resolution skills do not include a means of assessing student competency. This study investigated the feasibility of an assessment instrument based on Selman's INS (interpersonal negotiation strategies) model (Selman, 1980) in a grade three classroom. The assessment instrument is in the form of a rubric. Data collection included: tape-recorded data and observation of students solving actual conflicts, an interview procedure, and a writing activity. The assessment instrument was found to be feasible for classroom use. The most viable form of data collection was the tape-recording of students solving actual conflicts. It is recommended that the rubric be refined by changing it from a chart with discrete cells, into a continuum of INS levels.