Depending on what subject matter you teach and what topic you are focusing on, you will need to consider whether fictional or non-fictional narratives are appropriate.

There may be reasons why you would want students to imagine themselves as someone else or to try to think as someone different.

There may be other occasions where it is effective to have students tell a non-fictional story, about themselves, someone they know, or something that happened.

Telling a fictional story can allow students to imagine how someone else might feel; to help them develop empathy imagining the thoughts and feelings of someone else. It can also be a confidence-builder for students to imagine how they might respond to a situation before it happens and to have a chance to plan that response. Furthermore, students may gain additional perspective on events when they examine them under circumstances that allow them to play a role but to not be expected to necessarily be able to make the 'right' decision the first time. This allows them to learn from mistakes - something that the world lacks in the age of digital preservation.

On the other hand, a non-fictional narrative places students in the position of facing real-life challenges, of being able to address immediate and current situations while applying skills they have learned. It may also give them a chance to see the natural progression of causality when they make choices, i.e. If a patient presents themselves with these symptoms and you respond in a particular way, X or Y will happen.

Non-fictional narratives have the added benefit of creating an expectation of presenting students with circumstances that will likely be under their control, either now or in the future. Students can learn from events that have actually occurred or from the real-life experiences of others. This lends an element of reality that many students can find ways to relate to.

Fictional or non-fictional narratives provide a means for students to experience stories and to create their own. Your judgment about the content and subject you are teaching, as well as the group dynamic you have in your course, will help you determine which of these is appropriate for your students.