What is a critical element of a role-playing session?

A critical element of a role-playing session is that students practice under life-like conditions. This aspect is fundamental because the goal of role-playing is to simulate real-world scenarios where participants can apply their knowledge and skills in a controlled environment. By recreating situations that they might encounter outside of a training setting, students can enhance their learning experience, develop problem-solving skills, and better prepare for actual events. Engaging in role-playing allows learners to experiment with different approaches, receive feedback from peers and instructors, and gain confidence in their abilities by experiencing realistic challenges.

In contrast, the other options do not contribute to the effectiveness of role-playing. The theoretical discussions alone do not provide the hands-on practice that is essential for skill development. Role-playing is not effective if participants only observe and do not actively engage in the scenarios, as observation alone does not foster the same depth of understanding. Furthermore, while some instructors may participate in role-playing exercises, the focus is typically on enabling students to take on roles relevant to their learning objectives, rather than having participants exclusively perform as instructors. Thus, active participation in realistic scenarios is what makes option A the correct choice.