ONLINE PEER MEDIATION: WHAT NEXT?



The On-Line Peer Mediation Platform has moved from the support of the JAMS Foundation and the Association for Conflict Resolution and National Association of Peer Program Professionals to Rockdale School District in Georgia and the National Association of Peer Program Professions.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THE LAST TWO YEARS:

As a result of the year grant from the JAMS Foundation, we were able to complete the following areas of work. 


1 - Resources/Clearinghouse
Provide extensive information to anyone interested in peer mediation: useful links,
resources, research, best practices, standards, curriculum, and media.

2 - Online Peer Mediation Skills Development
Teach middle/high schools how students can practice their peer mediation skills by participating in online peer mediation simulations with other students and their trainer.
Each simulation consists of four parts:
·     a. (Co)mediation of a typical school-related conflict between two or more
students.
·    b.  Debriefing, to reflect on what happened during that peer mediation: what
worked well or not-so-well, and why?
·    c.  Video Recording.
·    d.  Online Survey, to collect all students feedback: e.g. what they liked about
their simulation, what the learned.

In 2015 we ran and video recorded six online mediation simulations. The results were very positive (students loved them). This is what Erin and Jada, two high school mediators, wrote: "Online Peer Mediation conforms to a high school schedule, mediation can happen anytime, anywhere. You really sharpen your skills because you are not in the same (physical) space." "Online Peer Mediation offers awesome flexibility. Technology is an advantage. This is a way to get an issued solved quickly… this is our scope of practice.”

3 - Online Training in Basic Peer Mediation Skills
Show how middle/high schools can teach their students 10 basic modules on peer
mediation skills online.

4 - Online Peer Mediation Services Show how middle/high schools experienced in
peer mediation can deliver online peer mediation services to schools that don’t have a
peer mediation program.

WHAT'S NEXT!
    
       I.  OPMP web site and webmaster has been transferred to Rockdale School District.
 (Website will be available to anyone)
II. Services Continued
A.      Area 1- Open to anyone accessing the web site
B.      All webinars developed during the project available on the web site for anyone to access.
C.      Area II, III, IV will be available for a “User’s fee”.
Interested schools/organizations will sign into area and will be responded by Dr. Cynthia Morton. 
III.  Services Expanded:
Different Levels of Training for Adult Professionals wanting to start, enhance and sustain on-line
mediation will be provided for a fee. For more information, please contact NAPPP or Dr. Cynthia
Morton, Rockdale School District (See Training below).

The OPMP team as a group of experts in peer mediation, online mediation, Internet and mobile technology will continue.

·    Judith A. Tindall, Ph.D. - President, National Association of Peer Program Professionals
·    Cynthia Morton, Ed.D. - Past Chair of Education Research and Teaching Section, ACR,  Rockdale School District, GA
·    Prof. Karen DeVoogd, MA – Past Director Mediator Mentors, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
·    Giuseppe Leone - Founder, Virtual Mediation Lab

·    Kristen Woodward - Conflict Resolution Specialist, Fairfax County Schools
     Kyle Bruner-Bruner Mediation, Atlanta, GA

    See link to training to work with our team!


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