Understanding Public Land Management through Role-playing

Role-playing activities are an example of active learning that introduces students to “real-world” situations. This paper discusses the development and assessment of a role-play that involves an undergraduate geography class in a local public land management process. This particular case study is useful because it reflects broader themes and relates to many students' recreational pursuits. Student evaluations of the activity demonstrate its effectiveness in capturing student interests, advancing their understanding of public land issues, and enhancing their academic skills. The exercise complements existing educational standards and is transferable to other university-level geography courses and possibly advanced high school classes.