Course Overview

Total: 30 hours

Master the mediation process, communication micro-skills, restorative justice principles, trauma-informed practices, cultural humility, and ethics for community and peer mediation. This comprehensive training prepares you to facilitate healing dialogues and resolve conflicts across diverse settings.

What You'll Learn

SYLLABUS: 30-Hour Basic Community Mediation Skills Training Course Title:

Resolving Differences: The Leader’s Guide to Organizing People Course Duration:
30-Hours

This course provides foundational mediation skills, focusing on healing through dialogue, restorative justice principles, and trauma-informed care. Participants will engage in structured learning to develop skills for community and peer mediation, conflict resolution, and cultural competency.

Learning Objectives

Understand the fundamentals of mediation and the mediation process.
Develop effective communication and conflict resolution strategies.
Apply trauma-informed care and cultural considerations in mediation.
Engage in community and peer mediation practices.
Build cultural competency and adhere to mediator ethics.
Course Modules
Welcome & Introductory Materials:
Welcome, Course Syllabus, & Mediation Glossary of Terms Time: 30 minutes
Module 1: Introduction & Healing Through Dialogue
Topics: Introduction & Healing Through Dialogue
Activities: Reflective journal, readings, video lesson, quiz Time: 3 hours
Module 2: Foundations of Mediation, The Mediation Process, & Restorative Justice Principles
Topics: Mediation Process & Restorative Justice Principles Activities: Case study, readings, video lesson, quiz
Time: 3 hours
Module 3: Skills for Effective Mediation & Community Engagement Strategies Topics: Mediation Skills & Community Engagement Strategies
Activities: Role-playing, readings, video lesson, quiz
Time: 3 hours
Module 4: Trauma-Informed Care, Healing-Centered Practices,
& Cultural Considerations in Mediation
Topics: ENGAGE Framework
Activities: Conflict resolution plan, readings, video lesson, quiz Time: 3 hours
Module 5: Community & Peer Mediation Case Studies
Topics: Healing-Centered Practices & Cultural Considerations Activities: Discussion forum, readings, video lesson, quiz Time: 3 hours
Module 6: Community & School (Peer) Mediation Topics: Case Studies & Peer Mediation
Activities: Simulation, readings, video lesson, quiz Time: 3 hours
Module 7: Conflict Resolution Techniques, Online Community Mediation, & Facilitating Dialogue
Topics: Conflict Resolution Techniques & Online Community Mediation Activities: Online mediation plan, readings, video lesson, quiz
Time: 3 hours
Module 8: Cultural Competency in Mediation, Strategies for
Diverse Communities, & Mediator Ethics
Topics: Strategies for Diverse Communities & Mediator Ethics
Activities: Cultural competency self-assessment, readings, video lesson, quiz Time: 3 hours
Module 9: Trauma-Informed Mediation & Emotional Intelligence
in Mediation
Topics: Trauma-Informed Mediation & Emotional Intelligence
Activities: Emotional intelligence exercises, readings, video lesson, quiz Time: 3 hours
Moving Forward: Building Stronger Communities through Collaborative Solutions Topics: Collaborative Solutions & Resources
Activities: Community engagement project, readings, video lesson, quiz
Time: 30 min.
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Final Assessment - Covers all course materials
Final Assessment Time: 2 hours
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Conclusion & Certificate of Completion
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Required Materials
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Resolving Differences: The Learner's Guide to Humanity Mediation
(included with course purchase)
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This syllabus outlines the structure and expectations for leaders engaging in mediation training, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.

Core Competencies

Mediation process stages and techniques
Active listening and OARS communication
Restorative justice principles
Trauma-informed facilitation
Cultural humility and ethics

Practical Applications

Community dispute resolution
School peer mediation programs
Online dispute resolution (ODR)
Workplace conflict management
Restorative conferencing

The continuum of restorative practices demonstrates how mediation fits within a broader framework of community accountability and healing. Source: Wikipedia - Restorative Practices

Evidence-Based Approach

This course integrates research-validated practices from multiple disciplines. Restorative justice approaches show meaningful victim satisfaction and modest recidivism reduction when implemented with fidelity [Campbell Systematic Review]. The communication skills draw from motivational interviewing evidence across health and social service contexts [Magill et al., 2018].

Online design scaffolds persistence and learning when coupled with active tasks and instructor presence. Evidence supports asynchronous delivery with structured engagement opportunities. [US Department of Education, 2010]

Course Structure

Ten modules guide you through foundational concepts to advanced facilitation skills:

Module 1: Introduction & Healing Through Dialogue (3 hours)
Module 2: Foundations of Mediation, Process & RJ (3 hours)
Module 3: Skills for Effective Mediation (3 hours)
Module 4: Trauma-Informed Care & Cultural Considerations (3 hours)
Module 5: Community & Peer Mediation Case Studies (3 hours)
Module 6: School & Community Peer Mediation (3 hours)
Module 7: Conflict Techniques & ODR Facilitation (3 hours)
Module 8: Cultural Competency & Mediator Ethics (3 hours)
Module 9: Trauma-Informed Mediation & Emotional Intelligence (3 hours)
Final Assessment: Recorded Facilitation & Reflection (3 hours)

Moving Forward: Building Stronger Communities

30 minutes

Consolidate your learning into an actionable practice plan. Identify specific contexts where you'll apply mediation skills and establish a sustainable rhythm for ongoing skill development.

Action Planning

Identify two community settings for practice
Set realistic implementation timeline
Establish community partnerships
Create personal professional development goals

Final Assessment: Recorded Facilitation + Reflection

2 hours

Demonstrate your mastery through a recorded mediation segment (12-15 minutes) and comprehensive written reflection (750 words). Your assessment will integrate course concepts including process stages, trauma-informed practice, cultural humility, psychological safety, and professional ethics.

Submission Requirements

Mapping facilitation choices to course concepts
Self-assessment of strengths and growth areas

Note: Restorative justice outcomes vary by context and implementation quality. Focus on demonstrating safe, consent-based facilitation practices. [Campbell Review]

Welcome & Introduction