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Ice Breakers — Jan 20

Mr. Rogers and the Power of Persuasion Video: https://www.mediate.com/mr-rogers-and-the-power-of-persuasion-video/

Even if you have taken one before, let’s see if you notice any changes.

5 Love Languages Quiz: https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language 

16 Personalities Test: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

HAVE FUN!

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Various – Spring 2025

This is the thread you can use to ask a question about the site or report any technical issues.
Basic Tips and Tricks for Initial Troubleshooting Keep note of this link if you have any log-on issues and need to troubleshoot quickly.
Our favorite — used often — is clearing browser cache. The link below shows how to clear the cache depending upon which browser you use and other tricks.
If you are experiencing problems displaying WordPress.com pages, clearing the browser cache is a good first step to try to resolve the issue. Here’s a brief explanation of how browser cache works:

  • Each time you access a web page, your web browser stores a temporary copy of the files needed to display the web page to you.
  • Those temporary files are called the browser cache.
  • If your cache is not updating properly or if it’s stuck, you could be viewing an older version of some of the supporting files that run WordPress.com.
  • If you clear the cache, this will force your browser to fetch all of the files for a website again so that you will see the most recent version of the page.
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Welcome, Welcome

Welcome to the unique Billings Mediation Center Training! We take a distinct approach to mediation training in our great state of Montana.

This site serves as a hub for information throughout the hybrid course, facilitating virtual meetings and complementing on-demand materials. It also fosters a community where students can share their training experience, ask questions, and network with others. Remember, there are no stupid questions.
Mediators are continuously learning about themselves and from others as they become their best selves in the mediation room.

Since our inception in 2019, we have been committed to delivering a valuable learning experience. Our hybrid training, which combined in-class learning with material and discussion online, was a testament to this commitment. Even before COVID-19, we used Zoom to allow access to training across our great State of Montana. We want to assure you that we will continue to deliver the most valuable learning experience, no matter what format we use, so that you can get what you need from the training.

We do our best to make our courses easy to use and navigate. After all, we are human and can still learn, so if you encounter any issues or have any feedback, we are more than happy to listen and help.

Once again, we extend a warm welcome to you at the Billings Mediation Center Training. We are truly delighted to have you join us on this journey of learning and growing into professional mediators.

On-Demand Week 3 Extras

From the 2022 Syllabus there are a couple of links not in the Course Manual at MediateUniversity, so enjoy from here:

(https://youtu.be/-KSryJXDpZo – Lack of fairness)

The issue of fairness perceived by the parties is the true determiner of our level of rapport and neutrality.

A sample mediation video:
Dog role-play https://mediate.com/simulation-community-property-dispute-video/

Post your thoughts concerning the opening, the discussion, caucus, and result:

On-Demand Weeks 2 and 3

Week 1 contained a bit of fluff as well as a dive into the deep end. Thank you for your engagement. Remember to come back to continue to engage here. Mediators understand that we are constantly learning … from each other as well.

The next couple of weeks offer time to absorb and continue with more substantive work.

By the end of Week 3, you should have completed “Listening for Entrances” and “Communication Triangle” within Section 2. For those of us who like to know percentages and benchmarks in certain terms, you should have completed 32% of the coursework on MediateUniversity after completing “Communication Triangle.”

Your viewing will be in accordance with Pages 18 – 23 (Week 2) and 24-27 (Week 3) of the Syllabus.

On-Demand Week 1

January 15 through January 20 – Approximately 5 Hours

By the end of Week 1, you should have completed all Sections of “Welcome to the Basic Mediation Training” and Lesson 2 “We Have You Signed Up.”
Failure to Complete Pre-Course Information will stop progression through the course.

Then view at least through Lesson 2 of Section 1 “Mediation Statement.”
Your viewing will be in accordance with Pages 1-23 of the Syllabus.
Be ready at our first Zoom interaction to introduce yourself and answer the question:

On Demand Weeks 6 and 7

I hope recent role-playing allowed you to experience Weeks 5 and 6 in a more practical manner. The last couple of weeks were dry in comparison, but the content is equally important.
This section covers syllabus pages 46 – 53.

Please watch the following videos leading up to our March 3 Interactive Zoom.
Basic 11: Ethics with Michael Lang;
Basic 11b: Ethics with Michael Lang Part II

Basic 12: Exits: Ethics & Agreements
Basic 13: Confidentiality
Basic 14: Drafting Agreement

On-Demand Week 4 Extras

Active Listening is Key:
Mediation trust fall video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPOgvzVOQig

Digging for Interests. https://youtu.be/HI0x0KYChq4

Too fast and you will miss something; Too hard and you will break something. Too soft and you won’t make progress.

Process and Ground Rules (Refresher):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oji5dxQemQ

10-Minute Landlord-Tenant Mediation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm4bG3B9GBQ