Role Playing and How We Learn
“Rehearsing Life”
Anne K. Abate
and
Patricia Farr
Library Discount Network
What We Will Cover
• Background
• Forms of Role Playing
• How Kids Play Roles
• More About Familiar Forms of Role Playing
• Specific Examples
• Role Playing in Training
• Role Playing in Management Situations
• Now Let’s Do It!
• Tips and Suggestions
• Where To Start in Your Organization
Background on Role Playing
Anne’s Thoughts
Pat’s Thoughts
Forms of Role Playing
Forms of Role Playing
Forms of Role Playing
Forms of Role Playing
Forms of Role Playing
Forms of Role Playing
Forms of Role Playing
Forms of Role Playing
Forms of Role Playing
“Rehearsing Life”
Tell Us Your Own Experience
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How Kids Role Play
How Kids Role Play
How Kids Role Play
How Kids Role Play
How Kids Role Play
Did You Role Play As A Child?
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Familiar Forms of Role Playing
• Role Playing Games
• Psychotherapy
• Fantasy Sports
Role Playing Games (RPG)
Psychotherapy
Fantasy Sports
Have You Participated in Any of
These?
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Specific Examples
• Model United Nations
• Corporate/Volunteer Training
• Bibliographic Instruction
• Graduate Student Instruction
• Cosplay Programming in Libraries
Model United Nations
American Cancer Society
Volunteer Training
Role Play Number 1
Lydia Chen
For the Volunteer Visitor:
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For the VF PLAYING THE PATIENT
 Retail executive, busy schedule, worried
about her appearance after chemo
 Does not want her employer/colleagues to
know of her diagnosis
 Chemo regimen conflicts with work
schedule (wants to postpone treatment for
a few months)
 Husband travels for business frequently
Possible Resources to suggest:
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(note others may be fine as well)
Comments:
42
married
no children
Mastectomy and Chemo
Road to Recovery
Support Groups
www.cancer.org
Understanding Chemotherapy
Look Good… Feel Better
Cancer Survivors Network (for interacting
with patients undergoing chemo to find out
what it's like for them, since as a caregiver
she is not likely to be able to go out for
support group meetings)
Library School
Reference and Bibliographic
Instruction Classes
Graduate School Students
Cosplay Programming in Libraries
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Role Playing in Training
• Disney Training Experience
• Sales Meeting Practice
Disney Training
Sales Training
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Role Playing in Management
Situations
• Benefits
• Structure
• Add appropriate details
• Act out the scenario
SCENARIO #1
• Scene---Circulation Desk in Public Library
• Employee (Pat)---Student worker with very little experience
• Customer (Anne)---Angry with new fine policies
SCENARIO #2
• Scene---Break Room in Academic Library
• Employee (Anne)---Employee who takes too long at break
• Manager (Volunteer)---Not the boss of the employee, but from
another department
• Situation---Manager notices this employee is always in the break
room and would like to warn the employee without elevating the
issue up the chain
Rehearsing Life
Some Tips for Role Playing
• Be Realistic
Some Tips for Role Playing
• Be Realistic
• Be Cautious and Sensitive
Some Tips for Role Playing
• Be Realistic
• Be Cautious and Sensitive
• Coach
Some Tips for Role Playing
• Be Realistic
• Be Cautious and Sensitive
• Coach
• De-Brief
Some Tips for Role Playing
• Be Realistic
• Be Cautious and Sensitive
• Coach
• De-Brief
• Prepare
More Thoughts to Consider
• Use Actual Locations
More Thoughts to Consider
• Use Actual Locations
• Videotape the Role Play
More Thoughts to Consider
• Use Actual Locations
• Videotape the Role Play
• Imitate Real World Scenarios
More Thoughts to Consider
• Use Actual Locations
• Videotape the Role Play
• Imitate Real World Scenarios
• When Important . . . Hire An Expert
Unexpected Results?
• Build Confidence
• Develop Listening Skills
• Creative Problem Solving
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Where to Start?
Where Will You Start?
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Where We Have Been
• Background
• Forms of Role Playing
• How Kids Play Roles
• More About Familiar Forms of Role Playing
• Specific Examples
• Role Playing in Training
• Role Playing in Management Situations
• Now Let’s Do It!
• Tips and Suggestions
• Where To Start in Your Organization
“Rehearsing Life”
Anne Abate
[email protected]
Patricia Farr
[email protected]