Describes cooperation between social studies and science education professors to introduce preservice teachers to the evolution versus creationism debate via a mock trial. Uses a hypothetical situation in which a 6th grade teacher was fired for not balancing evolution and creationism in his teaching. Reports that the mock trial slightly increased…

This paper describes the use of drama with severely socially challenged children, especially children with autistic spectrum disorders. This approach stresses the importance of early make-believe and the use of drama to help children explore social narratives from the inside and thus improve social competence. (Contains references.) (DB)

Explores role playing as a unique and amusing way of instruction. Describes how to use this method to teach about cells and atoms. (YDS)

Describes a New York school district's experience with using an assessment center to help select the superintendent. The key was designing in-basket and role-playing exercises to test candidates' competencies and training board members to evaluate results properly. (MLH)

Explores rhetorical specification in writing tasks by examining responses to a poorly constructed task used in large-scale placement testing at a major university. Argues that fictional scenarios (writing prompts which give student writers a role to play) can be effective, provided that the roles created are reasonable ones for students to adopt.…

Describes a standard approach in lessons about English literature that concentrate on the pupil's analytical faculties. A description is provided of a new learner-oriented activity that requires no direct interference by the teacher, and a lesson transcript is included. (GLR)

This article describes classroom activities, such as role playing, which provide students with practice in coping with a variety of police, medical, and fire emergencies. (IAH)

Kindergarteners' three pretend readings of two picture storybooks are analyzed in terms of approximate, ambiguous, and five types of extrapolated tokens. Seven tables show the results of analyses. It is suggested that children use various constructive strategies to acquire a familiarity with the registers of typical written story language.…

Describes how counselors can apply the family systems model to classrooms in helping teachers create a more open and effective climate. Discusses these strategies for implementation: basic communication and interpersonal skills, fairness conferences, classroom meetings, magic circle and circle of warmth, and role playing. (Author/ABL)

Examines collaborative writing and the importance of children's talk as they write. Provides several examples of children's dialogues during collaborative writing and role-playing sessions. (MM)

Discusses a classroom role-playing exercise in which students and teacher re-enact interviewing techniques that cause subjects to assume characteristics of the multiple personality. Demonstrates the social psychological aspects of multiple personality disorder. Considers the pedagogical and ethical implications of creating the multiple personality…

Describes how the "Iliad" can be taught effectively as a soap opera. (MM)

Five computerized role-playing scenarios accepting unrestricted natural language input were administered to 72 freshman medical students. The scenarios measured and automatically scored responses on five psychological dimensions: social skills, level of frustration, submissiveness, combativeness, and negotiative ability. Tests identified…

Describes the threat of earthquakes, especially in southern California, and the development of a plan that would help parents, children, and staff cope with the emotions and trauma of earthquakes. Strategies include conducting monthly drills, stockpiling supplies, encouraging conversations about earthquakes, and holding a "Pretend Quake…

Improvisation teaches students that they have the power to create. Drama can be a rehearsal for life, where students learn from successes and mistakes. Topics for improvisation can relate directly to class work or stimulate discussion of new topics. The article examines three steps for teaching improvisation (verbalization, visualization, and…