Instructional Strategy: Role Play, Games and Simulations Kendra, Jillian and Josh November 1, 2012

Explanation O When students play an active role in the learning process and are responsible for their actions, they acquire greater knowledge of the decision-making process and the rules that govern it. O Students are active, involved and reflective in a dynamic way. O By having an opportunity to experience and ‘feel’ a situation or event, students have a great insight and understanding.

Features O Highly motivational O Allows students to apply what they learn in various ways O Increase confidence O Facilitate communication/connections O Allows for independence O Encourages techniques of cooperation, not competition O Allows teacher to work with a wide range of student capabilities O Changes the social condition under which learning takes place

Advantages O Motivating and enjoyable activity for students O Promotes critical thinking O Hands on learning O Collaboration with classmates O Social skills are broadened

Disadvantages O Students could get off task more often O Preparation time takes longer for teacher and students O Assessment is harder for teachers in these situations compared to formal learning activities

Steps to Implementation O Prior to using this teaching strategy a teacher much first decide how long this simulation/ role play will take and plan from there. O Some cases may take one lesson where as others may take up to a couple of weeks. The teacher must decide how many participants are needed, if a few students are needed for an example or if students will be broken off into small groups. O Students must know procedures and expectations clearly prior to participating. O The teacher must know what they want to accomplish from using simulations/ role-play as opposed to using other teaching strategies.

Assessing Student Learning O assess student learning on an individual’s emotional involvement within the key factors of the key factors of the situation O student’s ability to: O identify and portray the concept O demonstrate understanding of the concept or processes under study through their actions and words O search for options O workout possible consequences

Examples O Games O Monopoly O opportunity to add, subtract, and plan O Chess and Othello O provide insight into cause and effect O Role Play O high degree of student physical mobility O encourages students to communicate O injects feelings of realism and relevance O Simulation O promote a positive relationship between teacher and students O change the social conditions which learning takes place O allow for some testing of roles by students