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2025 REACTING WINTER CONFERENCEOne More Thing to Master? Turning a Master Teacher into a Game Master January 17-19, 2025 | Virtual |
OVERVIEW
The University of Georgia is once again hosting a virtual Reacting Winter Conference on January 17th–19th, 2025! This year’s workshop will focus on the challenges that accompany transforming yourself from a Master Teacher to a Game Master. As faculty you are asked to wear more and more hats—instructor, informal counselor, grader, committee member, mental health watchdog, mentor on student success, researcher, and more. All the other hats you have to wear may hold you back from even attempting to master a new role as a Game Master. You may feel daunted when contemplating how Reacting requires not only an entirely different kind of learning for your students but also a different kind of teaching from you. Although Reacting asks you to wear one more hat as you move between your more familiar role as a Master Teacher and your new role as a Game Master, the benefits of this pedagogy are so significant that it is more than worthwhile. Join us virtually this year for a collegial conversation on mastering the art of game mastering. Whether you are new to Reacting and worried about wearing one more hat or you have been game mastering for years and want both to learn new strategies and to share your own practices with others, this workshop is for you! In addition to the game and active learning workshops, Reacting stalwart Michaele Ferguson of the University of Colorado - Boulder, will give our keynote address. |
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6:00 - 7 PM
| OPTIONAL ORIENTATION SESSION If you're new to Reacting to the Past or online workshops, or just wondering about one little thing before we begin, please join us for this casual chat and Q&A session with a pair of your conference hosts. |
7:30 - 9 PM | WORKSHOP: ONE MORE THING TO MASTER? Join us for an in-depth discussion on integrating Reacting to the Past into an already full workload. Whether you are just starting out or are a veteran, the professionals at University of Georgia will provide a stimulating conversation on how to add the title of GM to the many hats you wear as an instructor. |
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 |
11 AM - 12:30 PM
| GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION 1 The game workshop offers a condensed gameplay experience, context for the simulation, and includes post-game guidance on how to use Reacting in your own classes. You'll be sent a gamebook, as well as a detailed a role sheet. During the game, you participate as your role, making arguments and forging alliances to achieve specific objectives. The first session will cover historical context, game set-up, and faction meetings. At some game-friendly point during this 90 minute session, GMs will call for a 10 minute break The Threshold of Democracy: Athens in 403 B.C.E. GM: Liz Denham, Houston Community College Modernism vs. Traditionalism: Art in Paris 1888-1889 GM: Paula Lazrus, St. John's University Charles Darwin, the Copley Medal, and the Rise of Naturalism, 1861-1864 GM: Mandi Rollinson, Independent Scholar Egypt 1920s: Feminism, Nationalism, and Islam GM: Heather Keaney, Westmont College
Ending the Troubles: Religion, Nationalism, and the Search for Peace and Democracy in Northern Ireland, 1997-98 GM: John Burney, Doane College (ret.) |
12:30 - 2:00 PM
| BREAK Virtual conferences are their own kind of tiring, so we're offing a 90-minute midday break. There will be no activities offered for an hour, and the half-hour from 1:30-2 PM is an optional opportunity for participants to engage in casual chat with others , whether in- or out-of-game. |
2 - 3:30 PM | GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION 2 Gameplay begins in earnest. You can expect to get through about one-third to one-half of your game during this time. As before, GMs will include a 10 minute break at some point. |
3:30 - 4:15 PM | KEYNOTE PLENARY - MICHAELE FERGUSON More info coming soon! |
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 |
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION 3 Gameplay continues. You can expect to get almost to the end of you game in this session. As before, GMs will include a 10 minute break at some point during this session. |
12:30 - 2:00 PM | BREAK Virtual conferences are their own kind of tiring, so we're offering a 75-minute midday break. There will be no activities offered for an hour, and the half-hour from 1:30-1:45 PM is an optional opportunity for participants to engage in casual chat with others , whether in- or out-of-game. |
2:00 - 3:30 PM
| GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION 4 The final session includes time for debriefing the game, discussion of mechanics and implementation, and questions. |
3:30 - 4:15 PM | CLOSING COLLOQUY Closing remarks and discussion. |
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Includes all conference events. Members need to sign into your account in order to register at the member rate. Become a member here.
| Early Bird through November 30 |
Regular December 1-20 |
Late December 21-January 10 |
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| Member | $150 | $175 |
$200 |
| Non-Member | $225 | $250 | $275 |
FUNDED REGISTRATION FOR DEI ADVANCEMENT
The Reacting Consortium is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. We offer fully-funded and subsidized registration for instructors who are members of historically underrepresented and marginalized identity groups, and those teaching at minority-serving institutions (HBCUs, Tribal colleges and universities, AAPI and Hispanic-serving institutions). If you are interested in applying for one of these spots, please send an email to reacting@barnard.edu with the subject line “Funded WC Spot” by Friday, November 22, 2024. Approved applicants will be able to register for free or at a discount. Please apply and share with colleagues.
WORKSHOP-ONLY REGISTRATION
Instructors wishing to attend only the Friday night "Active Learning" workshop on Friday can register for it for a cost of $75. These registrants cannot observe or participate in the game workshop.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CAN I ONLY PARTICIPATE IN ONE GAME?
Yes. You play through one game for the full weekend. If you'd like to play multiple games, come to our in-person Annual Institute the second weekend in June.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE GAME WORKSHOP?
First of all: fun! In terms of practical details: Participants will be sent a digital gamebook ( outlining the topics and debates of a historical moment, as well as a detailed a role sheet for a historical actor in those debates. Participants prepare and engage as that historical actor, making arguments and forging alliances to achieve specific Victory Objectives. You need not be a specialist to play (or run) a Reacting game, but you should plan on doing some preparatory reading.
I HAVE A CONFLICT FOR PART OF THE GAME WORKSHOP SESSIONS, CAN I STILL ATTEND?
Yes. While it's not ideal, you can absolutely still attend. Please make note of your conflict when you register so we can try to work around it in casting, and we can let your GM know.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Email reacting@barnard.edu and we'll try to answer them.
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