Character-acting online: using role-play to develop staff training resources

This paper describes the design and implementation of a professional development workshop for university staff in using WebCT to manage their students’ progress. The workshop required the design of an online unit, complete with student submissions and assessment result, and development of authentic activities around this resource. Colleagues participated in a role-play exercise to populate the online unit with student activity, according to designated ‘personalities’ and study styles. This paper also discusses the subsequent use of this resource in the staff development workshop.