The power of role-based e-learning: selected content, tables and figures
Chapter 2 Examples of role-based e-learning
- Two Examples Implemented in a Learning Management System
- Four Similar Designs Implemented on the Fablusi Platform
- Four Similar Designs Implemented on the SIMPLE Platform
- Two Examples Implemented in Second Life or Virtual Worlds
- Two Examples for Schools
- Three Examples in the Round Table Discussion Format
- Summary
To put flesh on the bones of the description of role-based e-learning in Chapter 1, this chapter provides a number of examples of online role plays from different disciplines and from different parts of the world. Most examples are positioned in the role corner of the Simulation Triad outlined in Chapter 1 but a couple of examples from the other corners of the triad are included to illustrate the difference.
Table 2.1 combines other examples described throughout the book with the examples in this chapter to further illustrate the diversity of application of online role play.
The examples in this chapter are each described in a similar format covering objectives, group size and moderator role, activities, resources, and assessment as well as ideas for reuse of the design. For readability the examples have been grouped by similarity of learning design or platform, however the designs are all likely to be platform independent and reusable in other contexts. The 17 designs are arranged as follows:
• 2 examples implemented in an institutional Learning Management System
• 3 examples in the Round Table Discussion format
• 4 designs implemented on the Fablusi platform
• 4 designs implemented on the SIMPLE platform
• 2 examples for schools
• 2 examples implemented in Second Life or similar virtual worlds.
Some examples are small and easy to implement whilst others are more sophisticated, requiring teams of designers, educators and moderators. At the end of the chapter a matrix of design decision points compares and contrasts several of the examples in order to demonstrate the many different ways an online role play can be designed (Table 2.4). When reused, sometimes these role plays have been run differently e.g. longer/short or moderator in role/not in role etc. so the summary cannot be treated as definitive. However it does indicate the usual way these particular designs have been used in order to provide a sense of the different choices available to a role play designer.
Table 2.1 List of role-based e-learning examples ordered by discipline, noting closest corner of Simulation Triad
| Examples on the Simulation Triad |
Table 2.3 Comparison of three different role plays using the Round Table Discussion design
| Round Table Discussion design |
Table 2.4 Design decisions for nine different online role plays
| Design Decisions |
