NEWS AND Announcements 

Join us on Tuesday, July 29th at 1 pm Eastern for an online microgame workshop featuring The Meta Oversight Board: Content Moderation vs. Political Speech on Social Media and Revolting Nuns: Rebellion at Sainte-Croix, 590. You can choose one microgame, and each workshop includes a full play-through of the microgame, as well as set-up, debrief, and a Q&A session to help you understand how best to run the microgame in your own classroom. 

MICROGAME OPTIONS

META OVERSIGHT BOARD
The Meta Oversight Board: Content Moderation vs. Political Speech on Social Media immerses students in the challenges of balancing digital free speech with public safety and human rights. Players take on roles as members of Meta’s Oversight Board or one of five factions advocating different values around platforms’ role in society. Using real-world cases of banned social media posts, students debate how political and cultural contexts complicate a single understanding of content moderation online. Players must weigh political expression against safety, clash over what counts as “newsworthy,” and pitch policy solutions—from age-gating and protest shields to transparency archives. 

The game consists of two distinct scenarios, one focused on controversial speech by politicians in Cambodia and Pakistan, and the other on controversial speech by protestors in Colombia and Iran. Instructors can choose to use either of these scenarios independently, or use both together. In the workshop on July 29th, we will play through both scenarios. 

OR

REVOLTING NUNS
Revolting Nuns: Rebellion at Sainte-Croix, 590 examines an exciting historical moment: from 589-590, a group of forty nuns at the Abbey of Sainte-Croix in Poitiers, France rebelled against their abbess for months. They hired troops, kidnapped their abbess, stole the abbey's relic, and refused to disband until soldiers defeated them. This game places rival factions of Sainte-Croix's nuns in the tribunal that followed the rebellion. Bishops hear from the abbess and the rebels to determine who was at fault, why, and what penalties should be imposed. The game examines powerful and active roles for early medieval women as they wrestled with questions about who should lead a prominent monastery.

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Looking for a new STEM game? Check out our latest Short Game release, The DNA Hypothesis by Chad Curtis with Jules Perna! From the game description:

The DNA Hypothesis opens at a 1944 scientific conference at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York where eminent biochemists and geneticists are to share the latest developments in the nascent field of molecular biology. Of critical interest are the claims of Oswald Avery who claims to have identified the active component of the "transforming principle," as DNA the genetic material that can change one strain of bacteria into another. But not all are in agreement; protein is the much likelier candidate as it has a complex structure that give it the required specificity. Students will try to answer the questions, What is the genetic carrier of information? What evidence is there for or against the proposed hypotheses of the molecular basis of heredity? And what criteria could be used to establish a candidate molecule as the carrier of genetic information?

Recommended for classes of 8-32 students, this game is notable for having each student write and argue from a unique source. With a low amount of reading up front and low chaos/demand on the instructor, this game is a perfect first reacting game for both newbie and experienced STEM reactors to use in class. Check it out before heading to GDC this week! 

Feeling inspired by the Summer Institute? Looking for new games to include in your classes this fall? Our game authors have been hard at work this spring, and we have a veritable cornucopia of releases and updates for you.

New Releases

Hands Off Africa! Pan-Africanism, Decolonization, and the All African People's Conference, 1958

Alexander Rolnick and Eric Covey bring us a game that asks students to confront the tough issues African states faced amid efforts at Decolonization in the mid-20th century. Should the nation-state remain the paramount political unit? If the colonizers refuse to cede power, what strategies and tactics should Africans use to win their independence? Is violence ever justified? Delegates at the 1958 Conference in Accra had to answer all of these questions and more. 

The Schilling Revolt: Popular Unrest and Religious Change in Augsburg, 1524

Emily Gray’s latest publication is a microgame set during the era of the German Peasants’ War in Augsburg, Germany. Students take on the roles of members of the Augsburg City Council as they are confronted with an angry mob demanding religious, social and economic reform. Members of the council must find a way to either placate or intimidate the mob if they want to leave the City Hall unharmed. This game can be used as a stand-alone game or as a precursor to Augsburg 1530. From Dave Harris: Having used it with my own students in that latter role, it was a lot of fun to give them an early introduction to their character and allow them to carry an advantage forward to the main Augsburg 1530 game if they accomplished their character’s secret objective.

The Oversight Board: Content Moderation vs. Political Speech on Social Media

Michael Bossetta and John Giebfried bring us an interdisciplinary microgame set in the present day, where students take on the role of members of the Meta Oversight Board, deciding what speech to allow on the digital commons. The game has two distinct scenarios:, one focused on controversial speech by politicians in Cambodia and Pakistan, the other on posts by protestors in Colombia and Iran. Instructors can use either of these scenarios separately or together, in a game that asks urgent global questions around freedom of speech, the fight for rights, and the future of democracy itself.

Congress of Vienna: The Congress of Vienna and the Shape of Europe, 1814-1815

Terry Breese and Phillip Garland bring us a full-length game set during the pivotal months of late 1814 and early 1815, during which European politicians and diplomats sought to restore a continent after over two decades of war and revolution. Students take on the roles of representatives of European powers, great and small, salonnieres, advocates, and artists. Players engage in debates over what a post-Napoleonic Europe should look like, discussing themes of legitimacy, nationalism, and the balance of power all in a effort to forge a lasting peace. 

Updates

Politics, Religion, and the Birth of the Public Sphere: England, 1685-1688

Joseph Sramek has released a third major revision of his modular masterpiece, based on feedback and collaboration with members of the Reacting community. The biggest revision yet, this version of the game includes 30 new characters! The new character list allows for expanded representation of women, more outsider voices, and more cultural and literary figures. This overhaul promises a game that is fresh, with more expansive possibilities than ever. Even if you have used it before, check this updated game out again this fall!

Updates from the Institute

The following games featured at the 2025 Summer Institute all received updates in the lead-up to the event! If you played them at the Summer Institute and want to check them out for use in your own classroom, or are curious about what your colleagues got up to in New York, check out any of the following games:

Ashoka
Ashoka: Becoming the Dharma King
by J. Noel Hubler

Radical Reconstruction
Radical Reconstruction in New Orleans, 1868-1876
by Nicholas Proctor

Alien and Sedition Acts
Freedom and Censorship: The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798-1800
by Bill Offutt

Cholera 1854
Cholera! At the Pump: Contagionism, Miasma Theory, and Sanitation, London 1854
by Chad Curtis and Nicholas Proctor

Conclave 1492
Conclave 1492: The Election of a Renaissance Pope 
by William Keene Thompson

Finally, we have two level 2 games that were both played at the Summer Institute this year. Pages are up for them if you want to learn more about them, but files are not available yet. We do anticipate having them available soon though, so keep your eyes open for the formal announcement!

Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic, 1931-1939
by Ethan Besser Fredrick

Sati in India 1829
A ”Virtuous Woman”? The Abolition of Sati in India 1829
by Judy Walden

A big thank you to all the game authors who worked so hard to update and publish their games, and happy Reacting to all!

 

SCall for Applications to Join the Reacting Consortium Board as an Alumni Rep

The Reacting Consortium Board is calling for applications to fill an Alumni Representative position. To qualify, applicants must have played a Reacting game as an undergraduate. New Board members will be selected at the March 2025 meeting of the Board.

The Responsibilities of Reacting Consortium Board Members Include:

• Be a member of the Reacting to the Past Consortium

• Regularly attend and participate in all board and assigned committee meetings 

• Serve on at least one RCB committee and offer to take on special assignments 

• Stay informed about the organization’s mission, services, policies, and programs 

• Work with Reacting staff to achieve organizational goals

• Donate to the Consortium at a level comfortable to the individual Board Member

This year, the Reacting Consortium Board is particularly interested in candidates with the following interests:

1. Diversity, equity and inclusion programming  

2. Fundraising for academic and other non-profit work

3. Connecting Reacting to educational spaces outside of academia such as secondary education and museums.

The Reacting Consortium benefits immensely from a Board membership with a diversity of personal identities, educational institutional affiliation, and experience with game design and gameplay. Nominations are not limited to faculty at post-secondary education institutions. We particularly welcome secondary education instructors. We encourage applicants to describe how they would contribute to and foster the Board’s diversity. 

Members should plan to attend the Annual Institute at Barnard College (planned yearly for early June) for board meetings as well as to participate in quarterly conference calls for the entire Board and smaller electronic committee meetings that will vary each year. Members-elect are welcome to observe the board meetings during the Annual Institute before their term begins in July.

Required Application Materials Due by December 1st, 2024:

• A 1-2 page letter describing your credentials (keeping in mind the list above) and reason for interest in joining the Board. 

• A brief 1-2 page CV.

Please submit application materials and any questions to the Chair of the Governance & Nominations Committee, Ethan Besser Fredrick, at Efredricke@gmail.com. 

See also our call for general board applications.

The Reacting Consortium Board is calling for applications to recruit individuals to fill up to three positions on the Board. New Board members will be selected at the March 2025 meeting of the Board.

The Responsibilities of Reacting Consortium Board Members Include:

Be a member of the Reacting to the Past Consortium

Regularly attend and participate in all board and assigned committee meetings

Serve on at least one RCB committee and offer to take on special assignments

Stay informed about the organization’s mission, services, policies, and programs

Work with Reacting staff to achieve organizational goals

Donate to the Consortium at a level comfortable to the individual Board Member

This year, the Reacting Consortium Board is particularly interested in candidates with the following skill sets:

Creating and executing initiatives to add to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at academic institutions.

Grant writing, development, and other methods of fundraising for academic and non-profit organizations.

Creating and executing public history and/or digital humanities projects including exhibitions and programming in museums and other public-facing settings.

The Reacting Consortium benefits immensely from a Board membership with a diversity of personal identities, educational institutional affiliation, and experience with game design and gameplay. Nominations are not limited to faculty at post-secondary education institutions. We particularly welcome secondary education instructors. We encourage applicants to describe how they would contribute to and foster the Board’s diversity.

Members should plan to attend the Annual Institute at Barnard College (planned yearly for early June) for board meetings as well as to participate in quarterly conference calls for the entire Board and smaller electronic committee meetings that will vary each year. Members-elect are welcome to observe the board meetings during the Annual Institute before their term begins in July.

Required Application Materials Due by December 1st, 2024:

A 1-2 page letter describing your credentials (keeping in mind the list above) and reason for interest in joining the Board.

A brief 1-2 page CV.

Please submit application materials and any questions to the Chair of the Governance & Nominations Committee, Ethan Besser Fredrick, at Efredricke@gmail.com.

See also our call for Alumni Representatives

New from Reacting, 3 brand-new short and microgames have arrived just in time for the Fall 2024 semester! We're excited to announce these new additions to the Reacting library which can fit easily into a variety of classes!

SHORT GAMES:

Challenging Authority: Reformation Politics and Society, 1521-25

Challenging Authority examines how the Reformation moved from theological disputes to broad political and social change in the Holy Roman Empire in the early 1520s.

This game is designed to take students into three significant phases of the tumultuous first years of the Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther’s appearance before Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521, the three years of continuing reforms and challenges to secular rulers’ authority, and the tumultuous Peasants’ Revolt of 1524-25. In the course of the game students discover that challenges to authority, once underway, may take paths that no one anticipated and which shape history and society profoundly.

The Condition of England, 1841

Students learn about various competing ideologies of the early industrial revolution (in England) such as paternalism, Utilitarianism, free-trade/laissez-faire capitalism, and various radical reform movements (early socialism, feminism, etc.). Set in a London debating society, students will debate policy solutions to various intractable problems of the early industrial era.

The Condition of England examines the various competing ideologies of early industrial Britain such as paternalism, Utilitarianism, free trade/laissez faire capitalism (as represented by the Anti-Corn Law League), and early socialism and radicalism (as represented by a congeries of ex-Chartists, early feminists, and other radical reformers). Set in a London debating society, students will debate policy solutions to thorny problems such as treatment of the poor (the Poor Laws), whether agricultural protectionism or free trade should be the dominant economic policy (the Corn Laws), and whether there ought to be additional factory laws or whether the economic laws of supply and demand should be allowed to take their course. Other issues such as democratization of society, the role of women, temperance, and education, penal, and colonial reform are also addressed in the game. The possibilities and hindrances to effective coalition building among the various single-cause factions is also a key emphasis in the game.

MICROGAME:

Executive Order 9066: Japanese-Americans After Pearl Harbor

Executive Order 9066 simulates the fierce debates within the Roosevelt administration, in the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor, whether to order the evacuation and internment of all people of Japanese heritage, including U.S. citizens.

Much of the story behind Executive Order 9066 is not well known. To be sure, most Americans, most influential journalists, and most of their political leaders strongly favored the mass evacuation and internment of all Japanese and Japanese-Americans. But there were strong dissents that arose from a fundamental respect for constitutional rights and opposition to American racism. Many of these dissenters were in Roosevelt’s Department of Justice, but there were also a few among the political leadership, most of whom would pay for their principles by sacrificing their careers. Will the game's Roosevelt follow history or change it?

For more information about microgames be sure to read our previous blog post: https://reactingconsortium.org/Blog/13373113

FEEDBACK FORM:

If you have recently used one of our new short games please fill out our feedback form. These responses will provide valuable information to game authors and the Reacting Consortium.

We are proud to announce the recipients of this year's Reacting awards and fellowships! These were first announced at this year's Annual Institute. Submissions for these awards open at the beginning of each year, read on to learn more about this year's winners!

Brilliancy Prize - Anne Caillaud, David Eick, and Janel Pettes Guikema

The 2023 Brilliancy Prize was awarded to historians Anne Caillaud, David Eick, and Janel Pettes Guikema of Grand Valley State University for their outstanding collaboration on a variety of materials aimed at expanding Reacting to the Past to other foreign language faculty. Not only have they collaborated on translations of several games, including The Enlightenment in Crisis: Diderot's Encyclopedié in a Parisian Salon and Modernism vs. Traditionalism: Art in Paris 1888-1889, they’ve authored scholarly articles and presented their work at the The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and Modern Language Association. Moreover, they’ve created student- and faculty-facing guides for anyone interested in using Reacting to the past for language proficiency. In the words of their nominator, “they marked the way forward using rigorous and clear pedagogical principles, and supplied colleagues with the materials to make the journey.”

Dana Johnson Gorlin Fellowship - Ahuva Liberles

The Dana Johnson Gorlin Fellowship committee is thrilled to present this year’s award to Ahuva Liberles. As Director of the history teacher training program and member of the Jewish History faculty at Tel Aviv University, Dr. Liberles has expanded the reach of Reacting to the Past through her translations, her adaptation to critical questions in Israeli and Jewish history and culture, and her collaborative, international teaching. She has integrated Reacting into both interdisciplinary work at the University of Tel Aviv, and teaching at the University of Vienna. The committee was particularly impressed with Dr. Liberles’ use of Reacting in ethnically and religiously diverse classrooms to grapple with contemporary social issues in Israel, and on her use of Reacting pedagogy as a way of teaching Jewish history in a global context. In addition, she is making important contributions to Reacting by using it with diverse groups including both future secondary school teachers and senior citizens. Facilitating active engagement with histories and methods that foster engaged citizenship in the Middle East, her work also builds global ties among Reacting faculty, enabling our community to engage in the difficult conversations we need to be having.

Submissions are now open for this year's Reacting awards! Read on to learn more about these fantastic initiatives and how you can apply for them or nominate a deserving colleague.

Brilliancy Prize

The Brilliancy Prize seeks to recognize and publicize extraordinary creativity within the Reacting enterprise. Instituted in 2019, it’s presented to a particularly ingenious or creative idea or pedagogical practice that advances Reacting games, and comes with a $1,000 award, presented each year at the Annual Institute at Barnard College.   We would like to present the award at the Summer Institute at Barnard (June 6-9).

You can read more about the Brilliancy Prize and learn about past winners here, and if you want to apply, please send a letter of nomination (for yourself or someone else!) of no more than a three pages detailed description of the innovation being nominated and a rationale for why it is deserving of the award, along with any supporting materials, to current chair of the Brilliancy Prize Award Committee, Mary Jane Treacy at  maryjane.treacy@simmons.edu by 3/31/2024.

Dana Gorlin Johnson Fellowship

 The Dana Gorlin Johnson Fellowship is named in memory of Dana Johnson Gorlin, the founding administrator of the Reacting to the Past program. Without her work from 2002–while still an undergraduate student at Barnard–until 2014, the Reacting Consortium would not exist. You can read more about Dana here, as well as learn about past winners.

This fellowship is  awarded to a deserving faculty member, especially from a community college or public university, who best exemplifies Dana’s exceptional qualities of character and mind and who gives high promise of advancing Reacting. To apply or nominate someone for this award, please submit a two-page statement outlining the applicant's/nominee's previous experience with Reacting to the Past, as well as their potential for advancing the program, to Lucy Barnhouse at lbarnhouse@astate.edu by 3/31/2024.

Decisions will be made in late March and announced in April so award winners have time to plan to attend the Annual Institute on June 6-9!

A fresh crop of Reacting game materials have arrived just in time for finals!

We'll update this page as we get new files, check back later to stay up to date on the latest games and materials from the Reacting community.

Updated Games:

Rage Against the Machine: Technology, Rebellion, and the Industrial Revolution

Updated Gamebook, Role Sheets, Instructor's Manual, and Handouts.

The Jumonville Incident

Updated Gamebook, Role Sheets, Instructor's Manual, and Handouts.

Chicago, 1968

New Nametags for Roles

Kansas, 1999: Evolution or Creationism

Updated GB, IM, RS. Includes new link fixes, bribe mechanic, and focus on phonics.

Climate Change in Copenhagen

Powerpoints for introduction to issues and debriefing.

Community-Sourced Materials:

London 1854: Cesspits, Cholera, and Conflict over the Broad Street Pump London 1854: Cesspits, Cholera, and Conflict over the Broad Street Pump

Reformatted roles for improved classroom play.

Art In Paris: The Femme Pack

Includes roles that emphasize female artists and their ideas.

The Trial of Anne Hutchinson: Immigrant Pack

Includes indeterminate immigrant roles to expand discussion and fit larger classes.

The REB invites nominations and applications for positions on the Reacting Editorial Board.

The Reacting Editorial Board has three primary tasks:

· Working with authors, RC staff and UNC Press to move games from idea to published game.

· Establishing standards and expectations for traditional Reacting games (‘long-games’) and short games.

· Ensuring that Reacting to the Past games offer the best possible experience for students, faculty and staff.

REB members serve three-year renewable terms. Responsibilities include:

· Quarterly meetings (by zoom in spring, fall and winter, in person or zoom at the Annual Institute).

· Reviewing 2-4 game proposals per year (and reading review summaries of other game proposals).

· Participate in E-mail discussion at various times throughout the year.

· Other tasks as emerge during the year (represent the REB at a regional conference or the GDC, serve on temporary task forces, etc.)

To apply (or to nominate someone), please send a CV (short version is fine) and a letter of interest including your experience with Reacting to Kelly McFall at mcfallk@newmanu.edu. Experience with writing a Reacting game can be helpful in serving on the REB. But it is NOT required.

We will consider all applicants carefully. But we are especially interested in receiving applications from community members with experience in copywrite/permissions questions.

The Deadline for applications is 15 December. We’ll review the applications at our January meeting and notify applicants shortly after that meeting.