By asking students to demonstrate their knowledge in complex real-life scenarios, role play can help bridge the gap between theory and practice. It can be used individually, in partners, or in groups to assess learning, help students identify gaps in their understanding, deepen classroom engagement, and support the development of the interpersonal skills critical to success beyond the classroom.
CITE Home. Teaching Resource Bank. CITE Events. About CITE. If your course prepares students to enter a specific field, consider a historic or emerging real-world scenario related to what they may encounter. Common role play scenarios include advice, conflict negotiation, debate, defense, diagnosis, idea pitch, instruction, intervention, and interview, but role plays can take many forms from mock trials and historical recreations to disaster preparedness scenarios.
The prompts below can be adapted to fit many disciplines. Advice: You are in the role of X. A client comes to you and explains they are in situation Y. They are seeking advice. Study both perspectives, take on the role of A, and prepare to debate your classmates.
Defense: When presented with A, your team has chosen to do X. This has resulted in Y and an accusation of Z. Prepare and present a defense that explains and supports your actions. Present your answer with evidence. Instruction: You are in role A.
Prepare and present an interactive lesson to teach concept X to population B. Develop and outline the steps you would take to intervene. Be prepared to justify your choices. Interview: You are in the role of A.
