(119) Role Play: Don’t Forget about this Enduring Active Teaching Strategy

Abstract : Role play is an underused, versatile, yet efficient teaching strategy in nursing education. Role play is a simple, cost-effective strategy that can be used for various nursing concepts to keep students engaged in the learning process. The dramatic technique of RP encourages interaction in the classroom setting with a defined time frame, selected roles, and specific objectives. Within the classroom, RP adds consistency and reality to a scenario and aids in the development of critical thinking as well as contextual learning. The purpose of this faculty-led role-playing activity was to take a fundamental nursing topic that students previously defined as vapid and make the topic engaging and fun. Students reported increased attention and learning because they were able to apply class material to real-world situations.