How do you balance realism and creativity in role plays and simulations in instructor-led training?

2 Choose the right format

Depending on your learning objectives, audience, and resources, you can choose from different formats of role plays and simulations. For example, you can use scripted or unscripted role plays, computer-based or live simulations, individual or group activities, and so on. Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you need to consider the level of realism and creativity that is appropriate for your situation. For example, scripted role plays can provide more structure and guidance, but they can also limit the flexibility and spontaneity of the learners. Computer-based simulations can offer more interactivity and feedback, but they can also be more costly and complex to develop.

3 Set the context and rules

One of the key factors that affect the realism and creativity of role plays and simulations is the context and rules that you establish. You need to provide enough information and instructions to help your learners understand the situation, the roles, the goals, and the expectations of the activity. However, you also need to leave some room for improvisation, exploration, and discovery. You don't want to overwhelm your learners with too much detail or constrain them with too many restrictions. You want to create a realistic but not rigid scenario that allows your learners to apply their skills, knowledge, and creativity.

4 Facilitate and debrief

As an instructor, your role is to facilitate and debrief the role plays and simulations, not to control or dominate them. You need to monitor the progress and performance of your learners, provide support and feedback when needed, and intervene only when necessary. You also need to encourage and acknowledge the creativity and diversity of your learners, and avoid imposing your own opinions or solutions. After the role play or simulation, you need to debrief the activity with your learners, and help them reflect on their experience, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and transfer their learning to their real-life situations.

5 Evaluate and improve

Finally, you need to evaluate the effectiveness of your role plays and simulations, and seek feedback from your learners and other stakeholders. You need to assess whether your role plays and simulations achieved the learning objectives, engaged the learners, and provided realistic and creative scenarios. You also need to identify the areas of improvement, and make adjustments or modifications as needed. You can use various methods of evaluation, such as surveys, quizzes, observations, interviews, or self-reports. You can also use data and analytics from computer-based simulations to measure and improve the outcomes.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?