Show and tell

SHOW AND TELL

 Role play (show and tell) exercises give students the opportunity to assume the role of a person or act out a given situation. These roles can be performed by individual students, in pairs, or in groups which can play out a more complex scenario. Role plays engage students in real-life situations or scenarios that can be “stressful, unfamiliar, complex, or controversial” which requires them to examine personal feelings toward others and their circumstances (Bonwell & Eison, 1991, p.47).

Unlike simulations and games which often are planned, structured activities and can last over a long period of time, role play exercises “are usually short, spontaneous presentations” but also can be prearranged research assignments (Bonwell & Eison, 1991, p.47).

Benefits of Role Playing

Role playing (show and tell) can be effectively used in the classroom to:

• Motivate and engage students.
• Enhance current teaching strategies.
• Provide real-world scenarios to help students learn.
• Learn skills used in real-world situations (negotiation, debate, teamwork, cooperation, persuasion).
• Provide opportunities for critical observation of peers.
• Role plays (show and tell) can be effectively used in the classroom to provide real-world scenarios to help students learn.

SUMMARY

• Role plays provide students with the opportunity to take part in activities which mirror career-related scenarios.
•  To help students understand the use of role playing sessions, role plays should be content-focused, match learning objectives, and be relevant to real-world situations. 
• Role playing exercises encourage students to think more critically about complex and controversial subjects and to see situations from a different perspective. 
• When properly employed, role plays can motivate students in a fun and engaging way.