History 291 - Reacting to the Middle Ages
Reacting to the Middle Ages
Spring
2025
01
4.00
Joshua Birk
W 1:20 PM - 2:35 PM; M 1:40 PM - 2:55 PM
Smith College
HST-291-01-202503
Young Basement
jcbirk@smith.edu
This course uses an active learning pedagogy of role-playing games to teach about the society, culture, and politics of the medieval world. Students are assigned character roles with specific goals and must communicate, collaborate, and compete effectively to advance their objectives. Class sessions are run by students, students adhere to the philosophical and intellectual beliefs of these roles they must devise their own means of expressing those ideas persuasively in papers, speeches, or other public presentations to try to win the game. No previous experience with Reacting to the Past or knowledge of the medieval world is required. Enrollment limited to 30.