CONTEXTUAL LEARNING STRATEGIES1

(Bringing the Real World Into the Classroom)

Facilitator: Ahmad Fuad Muhammad2

This session is focused on learning the skills to use four different

contextual learning methods. These methods include role-playing,
case studies, scenarios and simulations, and problem-based training.
Procedures and methods for using each of these strategies will be
presented. Additionally, participants will practice the use of one or
more of these methods.

Participant Performance Objectives

Upon completion of this session you will be able to:

1. Explain the importance of context in learning.

2. Identify a variety of training methods that enhance learning
through realistic contexts.
3. Demonstrate proper use of at least one contextual learning
strategy designed to enhance trainee learning.

Why is Context Important for Learning?

✸ For the Transfer of Learning (Near & Far Transfer)

✸ More likely to remember things.
✸ Improving interest and relevance.
✸ Learner centered.

List examples of contextual learning that occurs within formal

training.

1. Simulation.
2. Role-play.
3. Case study.
4. Panel discussion.

1
Regional Training of Trainers Workshops (2007)
2
Training/Educational Consultant (afuadm@gmail.com)

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List examples of contextual learning that occurs outside of formal
training.

1. On the job training.

2. Apprenticeship.
3. Internship.
4. Mentoring.

Role Playing
Role-plays involve the spontaneous acting-out of a situation or
incident to portray a problem that is common to group members or
to give a common background to group members. Trainees act as
though they are involved in a real-life situation. Role-plays are
designed to help trainees understand the perspectives and feelings
of other people in a wide range of work-related issues. Role-plays
tend to have one main activity. They have a narrowly defined focus
and deal with immediate issues and consequences.

Types of Role Plays

1. Standard Role Plays

• Permit trainees to re-enact situations that they face on the job

or in the future.

2. Reverse Role Plays

• Are helpful for understanding another person’s viewpoint. At a

critical time in the role-play, the participants switch roles (e.g.,
the supervisor becomes the supervised and will gain insights
into what it feels like to be in that situation.

3. Doubling Role Plays

• Let observers get into the action when they feel moved to do
so. They simply step behind the current player and become
another character.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Role Plays

Advantages:

• Can provide an understanding of others’ emotions and

behaviors in similar situations.
• Helps trainees better understand their own behavior.
• Helps trainees learn to respond in positive ways to various
human relations situations.

Disadvantages:

• Trainees often find it difficult to role-play.

• May be viewed as a game and not a learning experience.
• Will likely fail without extensive planning.
• Usually involves only a small number of trainees.

Important Aspects of Role Plays

• Can include almost any number of participants.

• The activity must approximate reality.
• Considerable briefing and planning must precede the role-play.
• Role-plays usually have structure, an issue to resolve, and
sometimes a winner or loser.
• Evaluation of learning is difficult because each role-play is
different.
• Role-plays should not be used until the group is well
acquainted with each other.

Role Plays Consist of Three Phases:

1. Briefing the players and the class on the situation.

• Give the selected trainees their scenario sheets and ask them
to study it outside the classroom. While the players are reading
their scenarios, “brief” the rest of the class on the situation.
They should know who is involved in the role-play and what
issues could be brought up.

2. Conducting the actual role-play.

• The majority of the class will be involved in observing and

analyzing the role-play.

3. Conducting a follow-up discussion.

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 • A large group discussion should follow the role-play; usual
lasting about fifteen minutes.

Writing Role Plays

1. Determine what you want your trainees to learn from the role-
play.
2. Identify a problem or issue to be examined.
3. Create a scenario that will address the problem or issue.
4. Invent the characters for the role-play.
5. Write a descriptive situation for each character. Include enough
information so the “player” knows who he/she is, why they are
involved, and how they might attack the problem or issue.

Making Role Plays Successful

• Include “stumpers” or “sticky” situations within the scenario

that will create conflict for players.
• Include information in each character’s scenario that is
important to the problem or issue but is not something they
may be immediately willing to reveal.
• Make a copy of the individual scenarios for each “player” so
they can read through the situation.
• Select the “players” carefully to ensure that the role-play runs
smoothly. Trainees who have experienced the situation before
are good candidates; especially if they are given roles that are
contrary to their role in the real event.
• The trainer’s role is to structure and facilitate the role playing
and conduct the follow-up discussion.

Describe five situations in which a role-playing method might

be useful in your training situation.

1. Students supervision and/or counseling.

2. Conflicts between students and instructors.

3. Job increment interviews.

4. ....................................................................

5. ....................................................................

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 Case Studies

What is a Case Study?

During a case study, trainees are given information about a situation

and are directed to come to a decision or solve a problem concerning
the situation. Case studies usually relate to real life situations and
reduce the tendency of instructors to avoid real issues by talking
about theory rather than its application.

Frequently, the major outcome of a case study is some type of

product such as a recommendation, a decision, or an action plan.
Case studies can be brief or lengthy.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Case Studies

Advantages:

• Requires active learner involvement.

• Learning can be observed.
• Is often a fun learning activity.

Disadvantages:

• Information must be precise and kept up-to-date.

• Learners can become too interested in the content of the case.
• Is very difficult and time consuming to develop quality case
studies.

Writing a Case Study

A case is structured around a conflict situation in which the

following elements are emphasized:

1. Facts. Basic background facts must be identified. Although

some trainers prefer to introduce extraneous facts and
conditions for the purpose of making cases more realistic, most
trainers limit their cases to the essential facts.
2. Feelings. An especially important aspect of a case study is the
consideration of important feelings. The feelings of each of the
parties in the case towards the problem must be portrayed as
clearly as the facts.
3. Relationships. Basic to every case are important human
relationships. A desired course of action frequently cannot be
taken due to conflicting interactions between important parties
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 in conflict. Case materials must clearly show such relationships.
The case must portray a realistic situation for the trainees.
Therefore, the problem investigated in the case studies must be
of immediate concern to the trainee.

Structuring a Case Study

A case study may also be viewed as having a series of structures:

1. Time Structure. Events in the case take place according to a

certain time sequence, and this time sequence must be clear
to the trainee. To develop interest, the writer may wish to take
a starting point a recent event in the actual sequence and
show the early origins of the situation through a flashback.
2. Narrative Structure. There must be a flow to a story. The
events that happened and the circumstances of their
happening must be narrated in some kind of understandable
pattern. The trainees will not have the same insights as the
writer into the case, so the writer should spell the problem out
in specific terms.
3. Plot Structure. This is very important for sustaining interest
and a skillful writer will build up a sense of drama about the
problem to be solved.

Procedures for a Case Study

Procedures for writing a case study include three steps.

Step 1.Briefly describe individuals to be considered along with

their role identification. Included in this paragraph should
be a statement of the basic issue, e.g., a problem with a
particular transmission.
Step 2.Give background information (facts and feelings)
concerning individuals and the situation.
Step 3.Explain any additional developments concerning the basic
issue and culminate with a final statement or paragraph that
will portray an impending decision and/or raise specific
questions.

The case should be first written in rough draft form from the basic
data available to the trainer. The trainer should then write an
analysis and solution of the case as if he were assigned that case
as a trainee. This analysis and solution should be as thorough as
possible and should be based on the case itself and not on the
basic data. This will help to highlight any lack of clarity of
expression or omission of relevant data from the rough draft. The
trainer then prepares his case in final form from the rough draft.

Describe five situations in which the Case Study method might be

useful in your training situation.

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 1) ...............................................................................................
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2) ...............................................................................................
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3) ...............................................................................................
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4) ...............................................................................................
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5) ...............................................................................................
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Simulations

What is a Simulation?

During a simulation, trainees are given information about a

situation and are asked to perform as they would if it were a real
life event.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Simulations

Advantages:

• Can provide real-life experiences.

• Can simulate performance required after teaching.
• Provides the opportunity to experience hazardous or difficult
settings.
• Can be very motivating and fun.

Disadvantages:

• Can be expensive.
• May be viewed as a game and not as a learning experience.
• May fail if proper planning is not done.
• Can be boring and dull.
• Can be very difficult and time consuming to develop quality
simulations.

Types of Simulations

1. Hardware-Related Simulations
2. In-basket Simulations. For learning the “paperwork” routine
of a ob. Trainees get all the materials one might expect to
use in a typical day. The task is to work through and
process the paperwork until it is all completed.

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Describe five situations in which the simulations might be useful in
your training situation.

1. .............................................................................................
.
2. .............................................................................................
.
3. .............................................................................................
.
4. .............................................................................................
.
5. .............................................................................................
.

“As we interact in a contextually rich learning environment,

we pick up relevant jargon, imitate behavior, and gradually
start to act in accordance with the norms of the cultural
setting.” Brown, Collins & Duguid (1989)