Contents Introduction main body

Why are they significant and what are the challenges?

Role-play and simulations provide students with opportunities to learn and develop skills in purposeful ways. Instructors can give a traditional lecture in history, or students can experience it for themselves through role play that provides deeper historical context while making it personal. For simulations, students can replicate real scenarios they may encounter either in their chosen discipline or just in life. Instead of relying on traditional assessments, role play/simulations can better introduce key concepts in a more authentic way that promotes better engagement and retention among learners. Overall, role play and simulations challenge students to better understand complex processes or concepts through a creative application, making them come to life. 
Here are some additional benefits to introducing role play or simulations in the classroom

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  increased interpersonal communication skills
  
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  develop critical reading skills of textual documents as additional sources
  
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  promote research skills on particular themes or topics
  
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  teaches empathy and how different backgrounds (race, religion, socio-economic, etc.) can shape one’s experience.
  
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  serves as an “ice-breaker” among students
  
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  promotes independent problem-solving for deepened learning
  
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  encourage creative expression not normally experienced in a traditional classroom setting
  
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  Help instructors better evaluate how students make decisions under pressure or collaborate with others
  

Time: A substantial amount of time and commitment is necessary for the planning, execution, and assessment of role-playing and simulations in the classroom.
Setup: Depending on the physical elements of the role-play or simulation, classroom setup can be difficult, especially if working in a space with certain constraints. Also, setup can be challenging if taking into consideration accessibility issues for students or instructors.