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The Past Comes Alive One of Schreiner’s Reacting to the Past role-playing educational games was recently tested at a national conference in Michigan.
Dr. William Woods, dean of the school of liberal arts and English professor, attended the Reacting to the Past Game Development Conference, where his game “Victory or Death!: The Consultation of 1835 and the Texas War for Independence” was among six featured games being tested for further development. “It is now considered a levelthree game,” Woods said. “Which means it has made it through a primary evaluation of RTTP editors, and it has been play-tested not only in the classroom but also at a national conference.” This particular game has been played three times at SU. Set in October 1835, the game brings together delegates from all over the Texas colonies to San Felipe to
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debate the question of independence from the Mexican Republic. “Not unlike the patriots at the start of the American Revolution, the stakes are quite high; these so-called Texians of all races and social standing knew that a call for independence would result in war with the most powerful army in the Western Hemisphere, led by Santa Anna himself,” Woods said. “The best part is being able to take our students to the Alamo for the final session of the game. There is something remarkably powerful about standing on that sacred soil while playing a role in the establishment of the nation of Texas.” Reacting to the Past are fast-paced and highly engaging historical reenactments for the college classroom. These games allow students to take on the roles of actual historical figures and debate important philosophical notions at key moments in history. Students read important historical texts, write papers and give oral presentations. Schreiner University has made Reacting to the Past part of its Interdisciplinary Studies 1301 freshmen seminar class for three years now. There are up to three RTTP games going on each academic year. “We are actually getting a lot of attention in academic circles,” Woods said. “We are the only school in the nation that uses RTTP in a class that every student takes. We had a nice note about it recently in the Texas Monthly.” But why a game about this important moment in Texas history? Woods recalls being at his very first RTTP conference at Barnard College three years ago and looking over the very impressive list of published games, scenarios covering ancient Rome and Greece, the French Revolution, the American Revolution, Darwin and Shakespeare, among many others.
“Fifteen minutes into my very first game, I was hooked,” Woods said. “I could see how powerful this type of pedagogy would be in the classroom, but I also remember thinking about my favorite class in seventh grade— Texas History—and thinking what a great game the time of the Battle of the Alamo would make.” Woods pitched his idea to some of his RTTP colleagues and was encouraged to write the game. “As an English teacher with just a love of Texas history, I really had to go back and do some research,” Woods said. “I’m particularly in debt to Dr. John Huddleston of our history department who helped me fill in some gaps with his lecture notes.” The game was very well received at the game designer’s conference in Michigan last year; play-tested by some of the best designers in the country. “Their level of intensity was remarkable,” said Woods. “They really become the characters, and they are extremely competitive. It was a thrill to watch them in action.” Visitors to this historic gathering included bigger-than-life characters such as Sam Houston and Jim Bowie, along with Chief Bowles of the Texas Cherokees. But did they vote for independence? “Not that time,” Woods noted with a grin. “The Peace Party was simply too influential. They remained loyal Mexican subjects.” The game will be played again at the first regional RTTP workshop at Schreiner University in April. If you are interested in taking part please contact Woods at 830-792-7425. Photo: From left: Schreiner University students Katelyn Solarczyk, Justin Rogers, Derek Draper and Carleigh Hammond play the final session of the Reacting to the Past game “Victory or Death!: The Consultation of 1835 and the Texas War for Independence” at The Alamo in San Antonio.