14 The characters
What to do
Define and describe the characters that will appear in the scene and their role.
How to do it
When trying to define the characters that will appear in the simulation, the first thing to have in mind is that the more people involved in the case, the more complex the filming will be (recruitment, coordination, rehearsals, outfit, etc). Therefore, each character should perform essential actions that will directly affect the learning of the students and will relevantly contribute to the development of the case. Nonetheless, characters could also be chosen to challenge social stereo types or discrimination.
If a character does not add value to the simulation or their role can be easily fulfilled by another character, it may be best to remove them from the simulation. However, it is important to ensure that the removal of a character does not affect the realism of the simulation and that the remaining characters are still able to convey the necessary information and actions to the students.
Also, we should make the most out of the characters, using them as much as possible for the different actions that might need to be performed during the development of the case. Therefore, it will also be better to assign different tasks during the case to one actor than widely distributing small actions among several actors, as long as it is realistic.
Once we have an idea of the prototype characters that we will need for conducting the different actions of the simulation, it is time to carefully think and describe each character to ensure that all members of the development team has a clear understanding of the character’s identity. It is essential to describe the physical appearance, age, nationality, and other relevant details. By providing a clear description of the character, it will be easier to recruit actors that fit the role and accurately portray the character.
A careful consideration of the characters in a simulation is essential for creating a realistic and effective learning experience.
