Professional Education Workshops

Frameworks: An Introduction to Ethical Reasoning

In this interactive workshop, participants take an ethical personality quiz and explore four foundational ethical frameworks—consequences, principles and rights, virtue, and fairness. Through a guided case study, participants gain tools for identifying and analyzing ethical reasoning. They learn how to categorize ethical justifications, better understand the structure behind moral disagreements, and engage in thoughtful dialogue across differences. This session provides a clear, practical language for talking about ethics in professional settings and serves as a launchpad for additional exploration in an available “deep dive” series. 

When Values Collide: Navigating Ethical Tensions

This workshop introduces participants to the idea that ethical dilemmas often arise not from a lack of values, but from conflicts between them. Through short case studies and discussion, participants explore common value tensions—such as honesty vs. loyalty or fairness vs. care—and learn strategies for identifying and naming those conflicts in real-world scenarios. The session builds ethical awareness and equips participants to better understand the competing commitments at play in difficult decisions.

Ethical Tipping Points: What Changes Your Mind? 

This dynamic, discussion-based workshop explores how evolving information can shift our ethical judgments. Participants work through a case study delivered in three unfolding parts, each revealing new facts that complicate a central moral question. As the scenario develops, participants reflect on how and why their views shift, gaining insight into their own reasoning process. This session sharpens ethical awareness, fosters metacognition, and highlights the importance of context in making thoughtful decisions.

Making the Case: Analyzing Ethical Dilemmas

In this workshop, participants break down a complex real-world case by separating fact from judgment, mapping key stakeholders, and identifying central ethical questions. They learn a clear, repeatable method for analyzing morally difficult situations—including how to spot contested concepts, distinguish between types of moral claims, and surface the values at stake. With the optional Case Presentation component, participants also practice crafting and delivering a persuasive resolution to the case, building skills for clear, confident ethical communication across lines of disagreement.

Ethics Gone Wrong: Spotting Bad Reasoning

Not all ethical arguments are created equal. This workshop introduces participants to seven common reasoning fallacies that often show up in moral debates—from slippery slopes to appeals to emotion. Through examples and hands-on practice, participants learn to spot these missteps, explain why they’re problematic, and sharpen their own reasoning in the process. Ideal for anyone who wants to think—and argue—more clearly about high-stakes ethical issues.

Thinking and Working Across Difference

In a polarized world, meaningful dialogue across ideological divides is both challenging and essential. This workshop introduces participants to the value of engaging with opposing views and offers practical tools for navigating those conversations with openness and respect. Through guided discussion and reflection, participants begin to build the mindset and skills needed to approach disagreement not as a threat, but as an opportunity for growth, learning, and ethical insight.

Tools for Navigating Disagreement

This hands-on workshop equips participants with the tools to understand, name, and work with disagreement—rather than around it. Through three structured sections, participants learn to identify the root of disagreements (facts, values, or value priorities), explore a set of conversation moves for navigating conflict without needing consensus, and practice those moves through interactive role-play. An optional fourth section invites participants into a facilitated dialogue on a topic of their choosing, with a debrief to reflect on what worked. Perfect for teams, educators, and leaders facing tough conversations.

Mapping Values with Civic Self Portraits

Before we can engage across differences, we need to understand where our values come from. In this reflective workshop, participants answer a series of personal questions about the people, institutions, and experiences that have shaped their civic beliefs. Small-group conversations create space to share these stories and listen to others, helping participants build empathy and perspective. By grounding dialogue in personal origin stories, this session lays the foundation for more thoughtful, respectful conversations about complex civic and ethical issues.

Managing Temperature: Facilitation Skills for Tough Conversations

This workshop offers practical tools for leading conversations—especially when stakes are high and tempers may rise. Participants learn to recognize the signs of a healthy dialogue versus one that’s starting to simmer or boil over. Through hands-on techniques like Readers Theater and scenario practice, they develop strategies for diagnosing tension and making effective, well-timed interventions. Whether you’re facilitating a classroom, community forum, or team discussion, this session builds confidence and competence for navigating challenging conversations with care.