Dialogue in Practice
Developed as part of the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness initiative, Dialogue in Practice is a new AI-enabled learning tool—currently in beta testing—that uses technology to help students practice an essential civic skill: having respectful discussions.
INTRODUCTION
A safe place to practice tough conversations
College should be a place where young people learn to think bravely, listen thoughtfully, and speak with confidence—but many students today feel unprepared for the hard conversations that shape campus and civic life. Dialogue in Practice gives them a safe, guided way to build those muscles.
Through AI-powered simulations, students can rehearse challenging discussions privately, without the fear of judgment or getting it wrong. In addition to helping students, Dialogue in Practice helps colleges understand exactly where students struggle with dialogue, so they can better support classroom and campus conversations.
The Challenge
Students feel unsure of how to express their views and are afraid of getting something wrong.
The Program
Through AI-powered simulations, students can rehearse challenging discussions privately.
The Outcome
Students gain greater confidence, stronger civic skills, and more human connection.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Piloting new civic skill-building technology
Dialogue in Practice is for colleges that want to help their students feel more confident and capable during hard conversations. When more students practice this civic skill, a larger culture of openness and dialogue takes root on campus.
- A Safe Space to Grow: With AI-guided simulations of difficult conversations, students can practice communicating through disagreement without the fear of being judged, or of saying the wrong thing.
- Stronger Support for Campus Leaders: Faculty and staff gain clearer insight into where students struggle, so they can guide discussions more effectively.
- A Healthier Civic Culture: Colleges receive actionable data and tools that help embed essential civic skills across campus life, and prepare students to solve real-world problems together.
Bring Dialogue in Practice to Your Campus
How Beta Testing Works
When a school in the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness coalition adopts the Dialogue in Practice program, students practice navigating challenging conversations with AI-guided simulations that spark curiosity and collaboration–not debate or consensus. As faculty test the tool in their classrooms, C&S analyzes student engagement and gathers feedback to shape future iterations. These insights are then shared across the full College Presidents coalition, helping colleges bolster campus civic culture with real data and real student experiences.
- Colleges in the CP2 coalition choose to pilot Dialogue in Practice with guidance from C&S.
- Students participate in AI-guided dialogue simulations on complex or contentious topics.
- The experience invites reflection, curiosity, and healthy disagreement—not consensus, nor debate-winning.
- C&S gathers insights on student behaviors, engagement patterns, and skill-building.
- Feedback from students, faculty, and staff shapes subsequent versions of the tool.
- C&S shares learnings with the broader CP2 coalition to inform civic culture strategies.
Want to bring Dialogue in Practice to your campus?
This pilot phase runs through fall 2025. During this time, our team is gathering insights from students and faculty partners to refine the model and assess its potential impact. We’re listening, adjusting, and sharing what we learn as we go.
Interested in Learning More?
Drop us an email at membership@collegepresidents.org.
Meet Garry Jenkins
“All of education, including higher education, needs to help cultivate the skills and capabilities of constructive dialogue, active listening, respectful debate, openness to different viewpoints, negotiation, and collective problem solving. Students are arriving on campus not knowing how to talk to each other, especially those with different viewpoints, and we cannot afford to allow them to leave campus without having learned that critical set of skills.”
Garry Jenkins
Preside, Bates College
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dialogue in Practice?
Dialogue in Practice is an AI-enabled learning tool (currently in beta testing) that helps students practice having respectful discussions through guided, low-stakes conversation simulations delivered by faculty in the classroom.
Who is this product designed for?
The product is designed for colleges and faculty who want to support students in navigating disagreement, building confidence in expressing their views, and strengthening core civic skills across campus life.
How does this support—not replace—real classroom dialogue?
Dialogue in Practice does not replace human-to-human conversation. Instead, it gives students a private, guided space to rehearse tough discussions so they can show up more prepared, curious, and engaged in real classroom and campus conversations.
How can my college learn more or get involved?
Colleges interested in learning more about Dialogue in Practice or participating in future pilots can contact the C&S team to start a conversation about fit and next steps.
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