The History Games
The buzz all around San Diego is The Hunger Games and follow-up books by Suzanne Collins. North America is now home to several districts that must have their young people battle for resources and food. I haven’t read them (probably will this winter break), but they got me thinking. Could I have my first discussion (which is usually my fun way of assessing what they know, what they think, and what they don’t know) into some kind of group competition where elements from the past become tools in present struggles.
In the past, I would hand out a note card and ask a set of questions like: who’s your favorite president from the time period? What person was most important? What invention was most important? Where would you want to have lived and why? Then students would discuss this with a neighbor, and then share their answers. I’d find out, usually, that Ronald Reagan, JFK, and Bill Clinton were very popular. The cell phone usually comes right next to the light bulb for new technologies/inventions. And, my personal favorite was when a student-athelete explained to me that swimmer Michael Phelps was the “most important person” from the past. Sure, why not :).
For Thursday, I’m going to try and make it into an “assessment games”. I won’t call it that, because I don’t want my students thinking I’m trying to figure them out. Perhaps I’ll call it “The History Games” and devise some questions like, “if you were stuck on an island with 2 notable people from our time period, who would they be?” Then I could imagine a scenario where the separate islands join in combat over scarce resources. Or perhaps a question like, “if artificial intelligence takes over the earth and sets out to destroy all humans, or use them as an energy source, what goods would you want with you?” Sound crazy? Probably, but it also might get them thinking more creatively about the past, what they know about it, and how it impacts them today and in the future. (and I’d be tapping into their Survivor and The Matrix sentimentalities)
On Wednesday, I’ll report back about the first lecture. Oh, and the picture is JFK at my favorite spot in Ann Arbor, Michigan; where he announced plans for the Peace Corps.
The “history games” lecture was very interesting in the fact that we could develop our own civilization using our creative historical imagination. It was shockingly difficult to think of the 2 most influential inventions in history! I debated the refrigerator and the radio, but didn’t go with those inventions.
After class, I was thinking of other things we could have added to the list for our ‘history games’. It would have been interesting to hear people’s opinions on the most influential historical moment in history. (such as the launching of the space shuttle, or the detonation of the nuclear bomb). Very fun first lecture, and very creative!
Amy Alston
After reading this article I started to think about who I thought the “most important person” from the past was. I believe that Franklin D. Roosevelt was the most important person because of his desire to reshape the nation’s course. He also gave hope to America during the Great Depression, when hope was the last thing on people’s minds. I believe that Franklin’s best decision was to go in to World War II, because it not only benefited our country, it saved our world from being taken over by Hitler. If we did not go into World War II we could very well be a socialist country and would not be living like we do today. America would not be an economic powerhouse and instead would be full of troubles and social inequalities. The freedom we have today essentially rooted from his decision. Even though Franklin did not know how huge of an impact his decision would have, he will forever be one of the most influential people in American history.
Carli Johnson
I would love if a history Professor would make this history games at class. First it would be such fun for students. Second, I think it would be fun for professors to know how much history students know. Moreover, I think it would be interesting for professors to try out his assessment games in different classes like a 100 class, a 400 class or a 500 class to see the differences. Also, like for the 500 classes I would have try harder questions or questions so easy they don’t expect it. Know that I remember one of my professors for a 100 history class had a sets of questions and divided the class into groups, and whoever group had the most questions correctly would get extra credit points. Also, they were like 35 questions and I remember him saying that whoever answer all the questions would get an automatic A on the class I don’t think nobody answer all the questions.