Role playing can be an effective strategy to promote critical thinking in online discussions by encouraging students to look at an issue from the viewpoint of another. Assign roles based on course objectives and allow students to respond to questions on the discussion board by answering them as their “character” would. One strategy is to have small groups of learners develop scenarios around specific course content, and assume roles within the scenarios.
Role Playing Exercises- nice collection of resources from a geosciences view; can be adapted for other areas.