The document outlines the design dimensions of an online role play simulation involving students from multiple institutions playing roles related to development issues in the Mekong region. It describes aspects such as the duration of 7 weeks total with 3 weeks for online interactions; roles including stakeholder organizations with private and public agendas; a scenario based on real world issues; and assessment involving 35-50% from the role play. Moderation involves moderator decisions for resolving issues and options for staying in role or debriefing out of role.

1. 8 DIMENSIONS Characteristics of Role Play Design – 77 design decisions Mekong eSim Online Role Play
DESIGNERS Designed by a team: Multi-discipline Multi-institution Educational developers
Branding/naming 
CONTEXT Student enrolment status: All on-campus All off-campus Mixed Cross Campus Cross Institutional Cross Disciplinary Cross Borders
Total duration including online and f2f components plus final assessment task 7 weeks
Duration of online role play interaction only 3 weeks
Function of f2f with teacher: Briefing & role adoption Computer lab time scheduled Regular progress meetings scheduled Regular meetings
scheduled in role Culminates in peace delegation or formal meeting in role to aid consensus
Culminates in presentation but not necessarily in role Culminates in a debrief
Approximate number of students in largest class 140
ROLES Maximum number of roles 45
Type of role: Stakeholder organization Stakeholder organization - name changed or removed or composite to protect identity
Stakeholder title Stakeholder title & fictitious name Real person Real person - name changed Real person – historical
Fictional Private agendas as well as public agendas
Students publish role profile: None Position statement only Profile “in” role Profile “about” role
Student chooses own role 
Roles are played anonymously 
Moderator plays “in role” 
Students in multiple roles 
Teams play one role:  note: team members are thus not anonymous to each other Single site Multi site
PROBLEM Types of scenario: Real & current Based on real world Real & historical Fictional Multiple Episodes
Daily News Money Transactions
ASSESSMENT Role play optional e.g. can opt out & take exam instead 
Percentage of total assessment 35-50%
MODERATION Resolution process: Moderator decides Moderator in role decides One student role decides
Derole & Debrief: Stay in role Face to face group debrief Videotaped group debrief Written reflection
Permission needed from moderator for some actions 
Tutors as extra moderators 
Interventionist moderator 
RULES Participant obligations 
Private meeting spaces 
SUPPORT Student Guide 
Moderator Guide 
Team building activities 
Materials or Learning Objects provided: Real documents Fictional documents Grey literature (from academic’s research)
Based on real world Created by students Multimedia/video
Platform: LMS Yahoo/Hotmail Custom built in-house Hosted service e.g. Fablusi Second Life/3D Virtual World
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