communication and the art of roleplay
Jess Chalmers
April 2003
jess.chalmers@tafensw.edu.au
Introduction
I have been very fortunate to participate in ‘a chance of a lifetime’
web-based roleplay. I would like to share with you my journey as Jess
the learner (alias Kat Foe), Jess the designer/facilitator and passionate
communication junkie.
I feel Shrek-like in my online teaching and learning practices – an onion with many layers. At the heart of the layers is Jess the risk taker learner who participated in this online experience even though I dislike face-to-face roleplays. This roleplay experience sparked the connection with several other layers within me – the designer of inclusive teaching strategies and the seeker of effective soft skills to aid mutual understanding and communication online.
I have felt the power of simulation, the creative and collaborative potential of online communication tools, the essence of effective communication and the eerie ability to lose myself in a role in an online place and space. I have noted some snapshots of where I have travelled and would love to discuss this more with you in the conference.
I look forward to hearing form you.
Jess
the risk-taking learner - as Kat Foe
Ever wondered what it would be like to participate in an online simulation game that is about communication in the textile industry? Well I did.
Read the attached paper to see snippets of what Jess and Kat got up to. This paper also reflects on the simulation process for me as a learner/player.
Reflection of my learner/Player experience
My
experience in the simulation about communicating in the textiles industry
has had an enormous impact on me as a designer and online facilitator.
I feel, think and act differently since my experience as learner/player Kat Foe. A bold statement I know but I’ll try and distil some key learning points for me.
- Learners can actively engage with a critical problem/issue so it’s important to communicate it succinctly.
- Learners can improvise and adapt their roles to fulfil their individual learning needs.
- An empathic nurturing facilitator allows learners to develop and grow in their and as part of a role-playing team.
- Authentic situations should be used, as they work well and can really help to gel the learning.
- Empower your learners to construct knowledge together.
- The skill of facilitation /moderation is important for the learner’s wellbeing – role-plays can be scary.
- Learners can be creative communicators in new spaces/places.
- Much learning takes place in the debrief – communicate key learning points, and future implications.
- Enable all creative forms of communication online
Questions that surfaced for me as a designer and facilitator
- How can web based roleplays enhance effective online communication skills?
- What are the important online communication skills for an online facilitator?
- How good are my online communication skills? How do we communicate in an online roleplay?
- How do we convey the feelings and content of online messages?
- How can I use webbased roleplays to enhance online listening skills?
Implications
for change
Presently I facilitate the module ‘Communicating online’
in the Graduate Certificate in Facilitating and Managing eLearning (FAMe).
I have integrated role plays of learner scenarios to bring a playful,
authentic component in which the FAMe learners experience the situation
and feel, think and explore their role within it
In an online environment, Roleplayers elaborate scenarios for the FAMe participants to respond to. Participants practice and develop their communication skills – providing appropriate online feedback, posing critical questions, listening actively online and fostering online dialogue. The role players have non-gender non-culturally specific names and their communications are left deliberately open to interpretation. So far FAMe participants have responded very well to this activity. Many report feeling challenged, intrigued, engaged and sometimes frustrated but overall the experience is very worthwhile.
Future directions
I am now very interested in listening online. I ran a forum in NET*Working
2002 online conference .If you want to know more about my journey and
collective wisdom of others about online listening visit:
Collected wisdom from the forum (54k pdf)
Guy Kemshal-Bell’s paper also points out some valuable skills for any online teacher.
That’s it from me and Kat (my superego roleplay character). I hope you dabble in web based roleplay it’s quite a journey.
igniting the spark for web-based roleplay | 2003