The Art and Practice of Dialogue

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Course Info

About Course and Content

This course explores dialogue as a transformative practice that transcends mere conversation to create genuine understanding across human contexts. Students examine dialogue as relationship-building rather than information exchange, moving beyond debate paradigms to master the art of “thinking together” through suspended assumptions and collective intelligence.

The curriculum integrates theoretical foundations from Socratic dialogue to contemporary practice, requiring deep engagement with case studies spanning cross-cultural communication, community healing, leadership development, and digital spaces.

Learning Experience Design

Immersive Learning Methodology

Interactive Case Studies: Analyze transformative dialogue initiatives including MIT’s Dialogue Project between scientists and indigenous knowledge-keepers, Chicago’s youth violence intervention programs, and Peru’s Amantani Island homestay experiences.

Practical Applications: Engage in structured dialogue sessions, role-playing exercises across cultural scenarios, and digital communication laboratories that build real-world competency.

Capstone Development: Design and present original dialogue frameworks addressing contemporary challenges, demonstrating mastery of theoretical principles and practical application.

Master the distinction between dialogue and debate, moving from winning arguments to building understanding through suspended assumptions and collective intelligence
Develop deep listening skills and presence techniques that create authentic exchanges through microarchitecture of meaningful one-to-one communication
Navigate cross-cultural dialogue complexities using "what" and "how" questioning techniques that transform untranslatability into dialogic opportunity
Apply dialogue principles to tourism and hospitality contexts, moving beyond staged authenticity to create genuine cross-cultural understanding through narrative hospitality
Facilitate dialogue in divided communities using structured approaches that build safety for difficult conversations through personal storytelling
Lead through dialogue methodologies that prioritize questioning over telling, creating inclusive spaces where all voices contribute regardless of hierarchy
Design effective digital dialogue spaces that slow down online communication and build understanding across virtual platforms
Integrate creative expression into dialogue practice using art, story, and visual communication to bridge gaps where words alone fail

About The Instructor

Dr. Mohammad Taher Gholi Tabar - Comparative Religious Studies & Interfaith Dialogue Specialist

Academic Background

Ph.D. in Comparative Studies of Religions
Specialized expertise in dialogue theory and practice
Advanced training in Christian theology and Islamic thought
Multilingual academic bridging Islamic and Western scholarly traditions

Professional Experience

University of Graz: Abrahamic religions lecturer
International Institute for Islamic Studies: Research scholar
Islamic Azad University: Islamic philosophy instructor
International interfaith dialogue program organizer and speaker

Research & Publications

Peacebuilding through religious dialogue
Religious harmony and coexistence methodologies
Tourism's role in intercultural dialogue
Interreligious engagement frameworks
Academic conference contributor on dialogue theory

Dialogue Expertise

Interfaith dialogue facilitation across multiple traditions
Cross-cultural communication between Islamic and Western contexts
Community-based dialogue program development
Religious coexistence and mutual understanding initiatives

Career Impact

Professional Applications

Strategic Consulting: Framework development and analysis
International Business: Cross-border expansion and negotiation
Crisis Management: Organizational resilience and response
Innovation Leadership: Ecosystem development and management
Policy Analysis: Economic development and international relations

Certification Value

Official certification from the Institute for Arts, Diplomacy & Economy, recognizing advanced competency in global strategy and innovation management.

Free

Free access this course

Level

Intermediate
Total Enrolled

1
Last Updated

June 10, 2025

Weekly Learning Journey
Module 1: Foundations of Dialogue Dialogue versus debate paradigms, Bohm's collective intelligence theory, historical perspectives from Socratic to contemporary practice
Module 2: Deep Listening Mastery Presence and attentiveness techniques, microarchitecture of exchange, transformative questioning, role of silence, Nonviolent Communication frameworks
Module 3: Cross-Cultural Dialogue Navigation Untranslatability as opportunity, productive questioning techniques, ethical cultural engagement, Ubuntu dialogue practices from South Africa
Module 4: Tourism as Dialogue Visitor-host dynamics, moving beyond staged authenticity, narrative hospitality, dialogic souvenirs, Peru's Amantani Island case study
Module 5: Dialogue in Divided Communities Structured safety creation, personal storytelling before issue-tackling, community healing through dialogue
Module 6: Leadership Through Dialogue Question-based leadership, inclusive voice creation, Mayo Clinic huddle methodology, innovation through unexpected sources
Module 7: Digital Dialogue Spaces Online understanding building, assumption-checking techniques, Human Library digital model, virtual prejudice reduction
Module 8: Creative Dialogue Expression Art and story as communication bridges, visual storytelling, Chiapas Photography Project methodology
Module 9: Dialogue Debate Session Participant-chosen topic exploration, structured for/against dialogue practice, democratic topic selection process
Module 10: Capstone & Graduation Original dialogue framework presentations, comprehensive assessment, certification ceremony

Assessment Structure

Portfolio-Based Evaluation
Weeks 1-3: Theoretical Foundation Portfolio (25%)
Weeks 4-6: Applied Practice Portfolio (25%)
Weeks 7-8: Innovation Application Portfolio (25%)
Weeks 9-10: Capstone Project & Presentation (25%)