Comparing two dialogue methods for appreciating differences and similarities in groups and in honours education

Abstract

In increasingly diverse and polarized societies, honours education faces the challenge of preparing students to engage constructively with differences in – personal and disciplinary - perspectives, identities, experiences, values and emotions. Dialogue is recognized as a powerful practice for fostering mutual understanding and empathy, perspective taking, and collaboration in diverse learning environments. This article compares two structured dialogue methods that support such learning: the Toolbox dialogue method and the Keti Koti Table dialogue method. Drawing on scholarship in education, collaboration and communication, we analyse the cognitive and the affective and social dimensions of dialogue. Toolbox dialogue was developed to help participants identify and reflect on differences and similarities in underlying beliefs, values, and assumptions, particularly in interdisciplinary education and research. Keti Koti Table dialogue was designed to foster mutual understanding and empathy through the sharing of personal narratives and emotions concerning sensitive societal issues, like the legacies of colonialism and slavery. While the methods differ in structure, scale, and emphasis, both methods contribute to students’ intellectual, interpersonal, and reflective development by creating structured opportunities for deep listening, perspective taking, and collaborative meaning-making. Their complementary strengths make them valuable pedagogical tools for honours education, particularly in contexts characterized by diversity, complexity, and societal polarization.