Just as mediation styles differ enormously, so too do approaches to training and educating mediators. In the midst of much discourse on standards and accreditation, the focus on what makes a quality learning experience can be lost. This article will focus on what happens during mediator training and how mediators are taught to practice their craft. Drawing on the author’s own experience of mediation training in both professional and academic settings, this article will address what teaching methodologies are most appropriate to mediator education, and why. The article shall take a fresh look at the experiential methodologies that are currently used in such training, and explore some alternative teaching and learning strategies to make the learning experience better, and the outcomes of mediation training more successful.

As online education increases its foothold in higher and professional education, educators must face the challenge of bringing experiential learning activities such as role‐play into online settings. Mediation courses rely heavily on role‐play, but are increasingly moving online. This literature review will ascertain to what extent online mediation training is being considered, and how experiential learning can be brought into the online classroom. Suggestions will be made as to how such courses can be informed by the theory and practice of effective learning design so as to improve the experience of, and outcomes for online students of mediation.