Reacting to the Past

Publisher's blurb:

Reacting to the Past consists of elaborate games, set in the past, in which students are assigned roles informed by classic texts in the history of ideas. Class sessions are run entirely by students; instructors advise and guide students and grade their oral and written work.

Reacting to the Past seeks to draw students into the past, promote engagement with big ideas, and improve intellectual and academic skills. Reacting to the Past was honored with the 2004 Theodore Hesburgh Award (TIAA-CREF) for outstanding innovation in higher education.

User summary:

Reacting to the Past is a series of major roleplaying games intended for classroom use at the collegiate level. The games are supported by purpose-designed textbooks and numerous instructor resources.

User summary:

In broad terms, there are three "types" of games within the Reacting to the Past group.

The main games feature a professionally published textbook for students, and usually several supporting PDF documents for the instructor. These games are intended to be played over a long period of time - often, a full semester course devoted principally to the game experience and follow up.

A selection of short games are provided as PDF documents for both students and instructor. These game are intended to be played over several course sessions forming a component in a semester of study, but not the entire semester's content. Occasionally, the short games are designed to also function as an introduction to a longer main game.

A selection of micro games are provided as PDF documents for both students and instructor. These games are intended to be played in a single course session of about an hour, though preparation time must be done in advance. Occasionally, the micro games are designed to emphasize a particular component of a main game. Some micro games are designed as demonstration products, useful to introduce instructors to the concepts of play of Reacting to the Past.

This family is linked to all of the main games and also to short and micro games when these form standalone systems. This family also is linked to two series that gather together all of the RPG items used in the short and micro game categories, respectively. Refer to the appropriate linked items, below.