3. Objective: to help students practice offering dispute
mediation.
Distribute the following "Steps for Mediation" and ask students to
read them. To ensure that your students understand these steps,
ask them to suggest issues to consider when planning to intervene
as a mediator. Look for suggestions such as: Am I the right person?
Do I know one party better? Can I assist without taking sides? Will
both parties let me assist? Is this the right time to intervene? Are
the parties relatively calm? Do we have enough time? Is this the
right place?
Ask how students would feel if they offered to mediate and were
rejected. What would they do? Ask them why privacy is important.
What would be the effect of doing the intervention in a public place?
Ask students what they think are the reasons for these rules. What
would be the result of not having these rules? What should they do
if the disputants fail to observe the rules?
Describe the following situation, and briefly discuss what might have
happened and how the disputants might be feeling:
Pat and Lou are good friends. Pat broke up with his/her
girl/boyfriend and told Lou the story including all the events that led
to the breakup. Later Pat found out the story had gotten around and
blamed Lou for the gossip telling him/her never to get close to
him/her again.
Divide the class into groups of four. Two will play the disputants,
one, the mediator, and the fourth, an observer. Have the disputants
role-play the conflict and the mediator offer help using "Steps for
Mediation."
After the first role-play, have the observer help process by asking
the group questions such as: What went well? What could have
gone differently? The students can then change roles so each plays
either a disputant or a mediator.
Afterwards, ask students: How did you feel when the mediator
offered assistance? Did it feel helpful? Like an intrusion? How did
you feel when you offered mediation? Can you imagine yourself
offering to mediate a dispute in your family? Among friends? Have
you ever done that?