Reacting to the Past

"Reacting to the Past" (RTTP) is an innovative role-playing pedagogy designed to engage undergraduate students in the history of ideas. The curriculum consists of elaborate games, set in the past, in which students are assigned roles informed by seminal texts in the humanities and sciences. Class sessions are run entirely by students; instructors advise and guide students and grade their oral and written work. It seeks to draw students into the past, promote engagement with big ideas, and improve intellectual and academic skills. 

Pioneered by Professor Mark Carnes at Barnard College in 1996, the project is supported by the Reacting Consortium of colleges and universities.

Learn more about how Reacting can enliven your classroom at reactingconsortium.org

Reacting to the Past and its materials are copyrighted.