After Karen Holmes participated in 2 free online mediation simulations, she wrote this message to Giuseppe Leone, founder and project manager of Virtual Mediation Lab:

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Hello Giuseppe,

Thank you so much for your kindness and your service. It has been exceptionally helpful to my practice. I am currently enrolled in a graduate program for Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies at Champlain College. We participate in simulated mediations fairly often for our course work. I'm at the half-way point in the program and I have found myself repeatedly in role-plays with same group of fellow students. It can become difficult to keep a fresh and neutral approach as a mediator and as a role player.

For the first scenario that I participated in, it was comforting to know the role-players, but I welcomed the opportunity to work with people outside my cohort for the second role-play. I often wonder how other people are approaching conflict engagement. I look forward to participating as a party to find out more about new techniques and approaches.

I found the (Zoom.us) technology to be smooth and easy to use. As you know, I especially liked the "share screen" option!

After participating as a mediator in two on-line simulations, I feel more confident in my work and more certain than ever that practice, practice, practice is instrumental to success.

I look forward to working with you again.

Best,
Karen
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