● Correctly written training objective(s)- Mercy
At the end of this session, trainees will have no trouble explaining what role play training is, what
it does and what benefits it has in learning for adults. They will learn that role play gives people a
chance to practice dealing with conflict situations they might face in the workplace. In role play,
trainees will take on different parts and try out using communication, empathy and problemsolving skills to resolve conflicts. They will complete these tasks at least 90% correctly, becoming
more confident and reliable. As part of their training, trainees actively participate in group
discussions and feedback sessions that allow them to explore their performance, see what they are
good at and see where they can improve for effective workplace conflict handling.
An explanation of the training method- Molly
Describe the method in sufficient detail
Role play is a form of active, experiential training in which the trainees act out scenarios while a
trainer guides the session. Participants will then work out a scenario so that they can work on
problem solving skills as a group.
Describe when trainers use the method, e.g., what sort of content does the method work
well for? What trainees does the method work well for?
The great thing about role play is how adaptable it is to different scenarios. It can be used in
educational contexts as well as business contexts. The best situations for role play training are
those where there are stronger interpersonal components of the role. This could be a management
role, teaching, or customer service. The reason for this is the strong focus on reviewing the actions
of the participants as they react to the other participant, then as a group discussing the good and
bad of the interaction. For obvious reasons, this is going to be more beneficial to train for a role
where you will be interacting with other than not.
Describe how the method is implemented (what does it look like “in action?”)
The key steps in role play training is
1. Identify the issue at hand
2. Describe the scenario
3. Act out the scenario
4. Discuss
1. As a group you want to work out a current problem you are having that would benefit from
role play review. Some examples of this could be a role play of dealing with an unhappy
customer, a student coming to you with a tough problem, or a manager needing to talk to a
staff member about attendance issues.
2. Next it's important to describe the scenario and identify roles. Example: person 1 is a
customer service representative and person 2 is a customer that received the wrong order.
3. We will now have the group act out the scenario to the best of their abilities with the
information given
4. After the role play has happened, now as a group you discuss what occurred in the scene.
How was it handled by both parties? Is there something that could be improved on in the
situation?
Discuss how your method is used today, e.g., latest research on the method, any trends,
improvements, use of technology
Role play has shifted in recent years from being a mainly classroom tool used with students of all
ages to help them prepare for real world scenarios. Now role play is revolutionized into the
eLearning space. Now role play is mainly used in virtual simulations and online scenarios. This
allows role play to still be as effective in today's environment as it was decades ago due to its
easily adaptable delivery.
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/role-play-training
https://ablconnect.harvard.edu/role-play-research
https://www.teachfloor.com/elearning-glossary/role-play
● Advantages and disadvantages specific to your method- Ashu
Advantages● Active engagement- Role play training works as a simulation of a scenario which
requires active participation, leading to increased engagement and motivation
(The Benefits of Role-Playing in Teaching Social Skills | Intellistars - ABA
Therapy, n.d.). The trainees are more likely to remember what they have
practised.
● Immediate feedback from trainees- The trainers can actually observe and give
real time feedback to the participants which helps them identify their strengths
and areas for improvement (Tms, n.d.).
● Adaptability- Role play training method allows participants to respond
simultaneously to dynamic scenarios which encourages them to think creatively
and adapt to the various situations.
● Realistic development- Role play immerses the learners in real time situations
where they need to practice problem solving and decision making in a safe and
monitored environment. This hands- on experience provides them with great
confidence and prepares them for the potential situations at the workplace (Tms,
n.d.).
Disadvantages● Difficulty in managing- Even though role play training method comes
with many pros, there are some cons too. Role play is ideal for a small
group of learners. It becomes extremely difficult to manage all participants
and maintain order when it comes to larger groups, which leads to
unnecessary chaos ( Training and Development World, 2018).
● Participants resistance- Many individuals feel uncomfortable and
anxious about role play methods due to the fear of being judged or wrong
in a specific situation which can hinder participation and reduce the
effectiveness of the method (Aleajasminebintimoha, 2023).
● Resource intensive- An effective role play training method requires
intensive training and preparation which includes scenario design, space
arrangements and instructions. These sessions may take a long time to
conduct and then debrief.
● Risk of artificiality- The role play method may be perceived as nonserious or trivial, considering scenarios are not realistic or only made for
practice, which can hinder the learning process. It can reduce the impact
and lead to disengagement (Aleajasminebintimoha, 2023).
Recommendations for implementation (best practices, lessons learned etc.) - Camryn
Role play allows trainees to practise new behaviors in a safe environment (Saks & Haccoun,
2018, 158). To effectively utilize role play, training must reflect real-life scenarios, it must be
developed and enacted safely, and it must involve feedback. Adult learners value relevance, role
play must be designed and developed based on transferable skills and real life situations. For
communication, when designing role play to handle client complaints or staff miscommunications,
trainers must design it and make sure it consists of three phases: development, enactment, and
debriefing (Saks & Haccoun, 2018, 158) Utilizing these three phases allows trainees to learn,
experience, and then transfer those skills directly to their workplace. Debriefing is also important
as it allows trainers to digest what took place, and ask questions in a safe environment (Training
for Change, 2016).
One best practice that allows trainees to really ensure they understand what is expected is reverse
role play. Reverse roleplay is when trainees put themselves in the shoes of the other person in
the role play situation. This allows for trainees to feel empathy and understand what situations
are handled the way they are (Saks & Haccoun, 2018, 159). This is also effective when training
large groups as it encourages participation and reinforces strong communication.
The role of the trainer is crucial to the success of role play with adult learners. Recognizing that
some adult learners may feel uncomfortable or vulnerable participating in a role play with
colleagues, the trainer must create a supportive environment and encourage participation and
trust. Trainers must help answer questions, correct ineffective or unsafe work, and make sure
everyone feels comfortable asking questions and trying things they may not have before (Saks &
Haccoun, 2018, 159).
Saks, A. M., & Haccoun, R. R. (2018). Managing Performance Through Training and
Development. Nelson Education Limited.
Training for Change. (2016, September 30). How to lead roleplays [Training tool]. Retrieved
June 10, 2025, from https://www.trainingforchange.org/training_tools/how-to-lead-roleplays/
● Interactive component(s)- Himanshu
References
Aleajasminebintimoha. (2023, June 23). Advantages & Disadvantages of Role Play.pptx
[Slide show]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/advantage-disadvantagesof-role-playpptx/258577756
The Benefits of Role-Playing in Teaching Social Skills | Intellistars - ABA Therapy. (n.d.).
https://www.intellistarsaba.com/blog/the-benefits-of-role-playing-in-teaching-socialskills#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20main%20benefits,goes%20beyond%20traditional%
20teaching%20methodologies.
The training and development world. (2018). The Training World.
https://thetrainingworld.com/faq/roledisad.htm
Tms, D. (n.d.). The use of role-playing games in corporate training. DynDevice.
https://www.dyndevice.com/en/news/the-use-of-role-playing-games-in-corporatetraining-ELN-1724/