Role-playing in the classroom is most effective for which instructional goal?

Role-playing in the classroom is particularly effective for encouraging students to view content from different perspectives. This instructional strategy immerses students in scenarios where they must adopt various roles, allowing them to experience situations from viewpoints other than their own. It fosters empathy and a deeper understanding of complex concepts by engaging students in interactive and experiential learning.

When students participate in role-playing, they are often required to consider motivations, feelings, and reactions of characters or stakeholders involved in a scenario. This dynamic interaction helps them analyze situations critically and appreciate diverse perspectives that are often overlooked when simply studying factual knowledge in a traditional setting. The practice of role-playing becomes a powerful tool for enhancing critical thinking and social skills, crucial for subjects that involve human behavior, cultural differences, or historical events.

In contrast, while teaching factual knowledge and assigning roles may contribute to learning outcomes, they do not inherently provide the same depth of insight or the emotional engagement that role-playing offers. Additionally, the recording of student participation is more about assessment than the learning process itself, lacking the transformative perspective-shifting benefits that role-playing affords.