Before the pandemic, online mediation training was considered, by many, to be suboptimal. However, we have learned that offering informative, captivating sessions on an online platform can produce high-quality and even exceptional mediators. Since March 2020, all training activities for new and experienced mediators have primarily been online at the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division in the District of Columbia. These past years have provided a proving ground to optimize training delivery in an online setting; nevertheless, an in-person component will remain an essential part of the equation.
Online training has provided many benefits for the court and our mediators. There has been such great interest in our online training that we needed to limit available seats to create more interactivity. With that said, we have seen a ten percent increase in attendance in online continuing education sessions versus in person. Additionally, online training provided flexibility, along with more accessibility, through an online library of recordings. The convenience of online training has allowed us to host national and international speakers who otherwise would not have been able to participate in providing training for our volunteers. Furthermore, we have conducted continuing education sessions ranging from one-hour lunchtime talks to a seven-day Family Basic Mediation Training. The Family Basic Mediation Training was our first fully online basic mediation training, which included 8 hours of self-paced learning. While the screen time was taxing, the training was a success. Participants engaged in numerous online role-plays, skills drills, quizzes, and small group exercises. This training produced skilled mediators that have served families in DC for over a year.
Creating social support for mediators, who are often siloed in their practice, is essential in sustaining each other through the challenging work we have committed to. As the pandemic restrictions eased and the option to return onsite became part of the conversation, we saw great value in having an in-person component to form connections with our new volunteers. We adapted our Civil Basic Mediation training as a result. The five-day training included the first and last days as in-person days. This hybrid configuration allowed us to distribute materials and connect interpersonally with new volunteers over lunch and during breaks. Additionally, the in-person sessions allowed mediators to understand better the impact of seating arrangements, body language, and some of the nuances of the in-person practice. The online days included interactive activities and role-plays, enabling the mediators to practice their craft in an online environment. Trainees were also given a chance to mediate role-plays in person, providing a contrast to conducting mediations remotely. This hybrid model created mediators prepared for a landscape of both online and in-person mediation.
Moving forward, we should ask ourselves, what is the best approach to onboard and educate our mediators? What would motivate a mediator to attend in-person training? Is there value to having an in-person component for training when the mediations will ultimately occur online? Both online and in-person training can effectively prepare individuals to become successful mediators. Taking the time to reorganize existing and proven training to accommodate a hybrid model can be time-consuming; however, leveraging the strengths of both is essential to a vibrant and adept court mediation community.
