Dramatised role plays
In their Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens MOOC, Margaret Simons and Denis Muller wanted to show their learners how journalists work with a confidential informant when researching a story.
A role play provided a scripted dramatisation for the learners and added an exemplar of how a journalist could conduct such an interview. This approach conveyed more than a few pages of text could and was seemingly more engaging.
Pop-up messages during the video using Coursera’s in-video quiz tool allow learners to consider the scenario and how they might react to some of the informant’s requests.
Tip
Consider hiring actors for role plays as their acting skills can make the video feel more realistic than eager volunteers.