Dialogue in Practice
Dialogue in Practice is a new AI-enabled learning tool—currently in beta testing—that uses technology to help students learn and practice an essential civic skill: having respectful discussions.
INTRODUCTION
A Safe Place to Practice Tough Conversations
College doesn’t just prepare students for careers; it shapes them into the citizens they will become.
Dialogue in Practice is an offering for members of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness—our coalition of 125+ campus leaders committed to strengthening their campus culture.
Dialogue in Practice gives students a safe, guided way to build the civic skill to have productive conversations that shape campus and civic life.
Through structured curriculum, AI-powered simulations, and real-time feedback, students can build skills and 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
Too often civic readiness is treated as optional, or as a one-off class, project or workshop. Students need spaces to practice core civic skills—and conditions to make this culture of civic readiness possible.
The Experience
Students learn skills and rehearse challenging discussions through AI-powered simulations.
The Outcome
Students graduate ready to strengthen their communities and tackle the challenges of their generation.
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. C&S analyzes student engagement and gathers feedback to shape future iterations and helping participating colleges bolster campus civic culture with real data and real student experiences.
- Members in the College Presidents for Civic Preparedness coalition choose to pilot Dialogue in Practice with guidance from C&S.
- Students participate in the training and 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 participating campuses to inform civic culture strategies.
Want to bring Dialogue in Practice to your campus?
This pilot phase runs through fall 2026. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dialogue in Practice?
Dialogue in Practice is an AI-enabled learning tool (currently in beta testing) that helps students develop skills and practice having respectful discussions through guided, low-stakes conversation simulations.
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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