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Advancement in technology can be effectively used in Mediation Trainings.
Opening statement
After a session on importance and components of opening statement, and after demonstration of opening statements by some trainers and participants, the others can be asked to send their recorded opening statements.
The recording may be made individually, or as a group, wherein one of the mediators will be a mediator, and two others will be parties etc.
The same may be asked to be sent to the trainers and also to the co trainees/co participants.
Each of the trainers and the co participants may be requested to give constructive feedback on the opening statement delivered by the participant., by way of whatsapp message .
The participant is also asked to make a self assessment.
If number of corrections suggested by the co participants/trainers is more,the participant may be requested to try to re do the recording again.
Advantages
- All the components of opening statement get internalized by the trainee.
- Lots of time is saved.
- Participants learn to give and receive constructive feed back
Restatement
General case history be given to all the participants.
Narrative by Party 1 is given.
The Trainee Mediator is asked to make restatement, record the same and send it to other trainees and trainers.
The trainers and other trainees will be requested to send their feedback.
The feedback is directed to be regarding the components of the restatement. Whether the trainee mediator, while doing the restatement, effectively used one or more of the communication skills like summarizing, paraphrasing, filtering, deferring, acknowledging, reflection, and /or neutral reframing if any.
Whether the expressed position and interest of the party is identified by the trainee mediator or not.
Advantages: Theoretical concepts behind each of the techniques /skills used in mediation get strengthened.
Trainees will understand that no part of mediation is to be taken casually.
They understand the nuances of summarizing which has several other skills interwoven in it.
They try to introspect about their strengths and weaknesses.
Difficult Part: In order to follow this method, lots of planning and home work is required on the part of the trainer. Trainer has to constantly remember that ‘Professionalism cannot be compromised.’
“Introspection and Reflection act as powerful catalysts in personal growth”.
Gour Gopal das
(All copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)
Training of Trainers in Mediation 
The practical excercise like this make easy to receive, relate, recapitulate and re do.
Thank you ma’am.
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