Training Activities Overview

The following training activities are designed to address the ethical competency areas described in Teaching Mediation Ethics.

• Self-Awareness
• Knowledge of Standards
• Analysis and Decision Making
• Performance

Click on the links below for instructions on how to set up and facilitate each exercise.

Ethics Training Activities

1.  Ethics Jeopardy

Based on the TV game show, this game quizzes participants on their knowledge of codes of ethics.

Competency Area:  Knowledge of Standards

2.  Quick Decisions

Participants take turns responding as a mediator to a series of ethical dilemmas arising in the mediation session.

Competency Area:  Performance

3.  Stand by Your Values

Faced with a variety of mediation outcomes, participants identify the outcome that would be most in conflict with their personal values.

Competency Area:  Self Awareness

4.  Decision-Making Model

The trainees are presented with a decision-making model to use in analyzing ethical disputes.  Using a case study or demonstration, the class works through the stages to arrive at an ethical solution.

Competency Area:  Knowledge of Standards, Analysis and Decision Making

5.  Stop Action Role Play

Trainees watch a simulated role play and stop it at the point they recognize that an ethical dilemma has come up.  They discuss the dilemma as a class and develop a strategy for the mediator.  They observe as the mediator implements the group’s strategy and then discuss the effects of the mediator's response.

Competency Area:  Knowledge of Standards, Analysis and Decision Making, Performance

6.  Where Do You Draw the Line?

Trainees must arrange a variety of questions to the most ethical to the least ethical and then draw a line to indicate at what point the transition from ethical to unethical behavior takes place.

Competency Area:  Analysis and Decision Making, Performance

7.  Personal Bias

Trainees view pictures of individuals and are asked to make judgments about them (e.g., who is most likely to be your friend?, least likely?). In small groups they discuss the assumptions and biases which form the bases for their judgments.

Competency Area:  Self Awareness

8.  Defend Yourself

In small groups, three trainees play the part of a grievance committee and are given a copy of the disputant's complaint.  The fourth person plays the mediator and is given a copy of the complaint and a description of what actually happened in the mediation.  The mediator has to justify their actions to the committee.

Competency Area:  Knowledge of Standards, Analysis and Decision Making