September 2009 — Volume 3, Issue 5

Encouraging role-based learning environments

Online role-based learning can be a powerful learning tool. A role play typically lasts four weeks and sophisticated scenarios can involve up to 80 characters or 300 students playing in teams.

EnROLE is an ALTC-funded project aimed at encouraging role-based learning environments by building a community of practice and developing a repository of sharable and reusable role play designs with an associated peer review process.

Project leader, Wollongong’s Professor Sandra Wills, says role-based learning teaches students to collaborate, communicate and manage conflict.

“It’s very powerful to see the world from someone else’s shoes. So what [students] learn is different perspectives on issues,” she says. “It is also an authentic work experience so they get a better understanding of the world of work.”

Initially involving five NSW universities – University of Wollongong, Macquarie University, The University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney and University of Technology, Sydney – the project has now also formed a network in Victoria and South Australia.

The project set out by tracking down role plays used in Australia and overseas and writing them up using a template. So far they have catalogued 128 role plays and 50 of those are described on the EnROLE website in more detail. The scenarios cover 16 discipline areas and include 28 role plays from other countries.

Professor Wills says they had hoped to have more international involvement but found that Australia is leading
the world in this area.

“We have tried to find partners in other countries and there are some really innovative things happening but in the main I think this is an area that Australia excels at,” she says.

The importance of forming partnerships is emphasised by the project at all levels as it was in part about building a community of practice and sharing materials.

Through partnering experienced designers with beginners they have fostered 32 new role plays, in part by encouraging designers to modify existing role plays for reuse. Professor Wills hopes this will show that innovation can mean adapting others’ work.

“Starting from scratch is part of the burden of innovating. Everyone thinks they are doing it alone,” says Professor Wills.

To encourage a sense of community each university hosted a series of social events including wine and cheese nights and even a masked ball, as well as professional development workshops.

“Role play designers often feel they are the only one so to find they weren’t alone, that there is a bigger community was a real benefit. We have certainly raised the profile of the area and people in the area and given them confidence to continue and that their work is of value.”

With two books in the works the next step is to start the peer review process using the framework they have built.

Professor Wills says the project team is committed for the long-term and will continue to add role plays to the website http://www.uow.edu.au/cedir/enrole/.