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Mediation training has a blend of many forms of learning. Courses are differently, thoughtfully and meticulously designed to see to it that trainees turn out to be the best mediators.
I – STEP- Basic Course
In this course , basic training in mediation is given. By and large the trainees undergo training in mediation for forty hours , start doing co mediations, and then take it forward. They continue to do mediations independently and at times with other ( Co) mediator/s.
In this basic course , concepts are introduced at the fundamental level. Some essential skills and techniques are introduced to the participants with which they can start doing mediations.
Focus: The trainers’ focus will be on equipping the mediators to do actual – live mediations.
The focus will be to lay proper foundation.
II STEP- Refresher Course
In this course, mediators who have already undergone basic course in mediation will be given further training to see to it that that their foundation remains strong . Refresher course focuses on strengthening the foundation which has already been laid.
In the refresher course, trainer helps the participants to retrace the steps. Participants are encouraged to look back , to understand whether the fundamental principles, concepts, skills, techniques introduced to them during basic course have remained with them, or whether they have forgotten or whether they have not been adapting and using the same.
Through the refresher course the concepts introduced in the basic course are brought back to the surface. It provides an opportunity for the trainees to have a relook at what they already know ( or supposed to have been knowing).
It is more or less a checking process. Parties get reassured that what is learnt by them is not forgotten . They are made to understand the value of adhering to the fundamentals of mediation.
Focus is on strengthening the foundation.
To test the capacity of retention.
Challenge: Whenever the trainers understand that, some or many or all the trainees( Trained mediators) do not have their fundamentals straight, such trainees will be advised to undergo the basic course once again.
Thus from the second step there will be a possibility of redirection to the first step.
III- Advanced course
After the trained mediators have successfully gone through couple of refresher courses, they will be eligible for advanced course/s .
In the advanced course:
A deeper level of understanding of the concepts, skills and techniques already introduced to the trainees in the basic course, and strengthened through the refresher course/s, will be provided.
Some new concepts techniques and skills will be introduced.
Permutations and combinations of different skills and techniques will be trained to be tested, and applied.
Blending of different theories of learning will be introduced.
Focus: The focus in the advanced course will be to take the mediators to the next step in enhancing their competence.
Challenge: What is learnt in the advanced course virtually remains a basic course as far as the newly learnt concepts, techniques and skills are concerned. Hence this advanced course requires a further refresher course to strengthen as far as the newly laid foundation is concerned . And from there they can go to the next advanced training.
Thus the continued learning remains constant throughout the journey of an individual as a mediator.
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
John Wooden – American Basketball Coach and Player.
(All copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)
Training of Trainers in Mediation 