Public forum mediation: a training exercise for conflict facilitation skills Available to Purchase

The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of public forum mediation as a model for training in and improvement of conflict facilitation skills.

The training strategy integrates continuous involvement of all the trainees through the use of a reflective team. The team and trainees focus on recognizing communication patterns used by individuals engaged in conflict.

Identifying communication patterns and strategies strengthens the trainees' ability to alter language use and nonverbal behavior during the facilitation process.

The use of public forum mediation strategies within the training context offers new and different ways for examining communication in the process of conflict facilitation.