Question

A well-known university in the Boston area offers programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, athletic training, and exercise physiology. These programs attract a diverse group of students from all over the nation and abroad. Professors at the university meet before the school year to discuss the challenges and opportunities awaiting the incoming entry-level graduate students in their healthcare profession disciplines. One professor remarks, “This is a very eclectic group of students in terms of age, professional experience, ethnicity, and cultural background. I am not sure how to stimulate group interaction in a class with such diversity.” The faculty members discuss various instructional methods they have used to facilitate empathy and understanding in groups of students. Mary comments, “I tried role-playing once for team building, but it didn’t seem to work too well. Was role-playing a bad choice? What other teaching approaches can be used to actively engage these students?”

• 1. Discuss the advantages and limitations of the instructional method of role-playing to facilitate group cohesiveness.
• 2. If professors want to encourage learners to take an active role in their courses, what other instructional methods can they select?
• 3. An important aspect of evaluating any educational program is to assess the effectiveness of the instructional methods used. What five major questions should be asked to determine if an instructional method was effective?

Answer 1

1.Advantages of role playing: It is active way of learning.It offers the idea to act in real life situations.It covers the attention of the group.It conveys the ideas easily to the group.Role playing includes all the people in the group.It makes the students to active participation.Students develop team building while preparing and acting in role playing.

Limitations: Sometimes people find it fun but fails to get ideas.Some students have no interest so they continue to away from the team.Some feel discomfort to participate.some have fear to act in front of others.

2.Group discussion is other instructional method can be select to take active roles among students.Class must be divided into groups.Prior to the discussion itself topics should be given.Hence they are prepared.Among the group they can select themselves or can be a volunteer to discuss about the topic.For the best talk can offer any prize promotes the active roles among students.Or can conduct a debate like programs.

3.1.Whether this method is understood by all students?

2.Whether this method is applicable to this group of students?

3.What are the advantages and disadvantages in employing this method of instruction?

4.What is the feed back from the students for this method of instruction?

5.What is the effectivess of the student after this method of instruction?