October 3, 2016 FAC/STAFF

---

Today: Inhabiting Roles to Enhance Learning: European Union Simulations and Role Play Debates Featuring Andreas Sobisch and Rodney Hessinger

This CTL Lunch and Learn session will focus on ways to engage students through role playing. The session will take place on Monday, October 3, at noon in Admin B 272 (History Seminar Room).

Andreas Sobisch will focus on his use of EU simulations. Since 2000 JCU has participated in the Mid-Atlantic European Union Simulation Consortium. The MEUSC brings students from institutions from four states to Washington, D.C. each fall semester to participate in a three-day simulation of the European Union’s decision-making institutions and policy-making procedures. Rodney Hessinger will share some of his historical role play debate exercises. Students are asked to debate contentious issues from our past, such as abolitionism and the Salem witch trials. By inhabiting the persona of past actors, students are freed to explore and comprehend alternative past perspectives without risk of incurring negative peer judgments.

There is considerable evidence that simulations offer several benefits, including superior acquisition and retention of factual knowledge, deeper insights into political processes, greater interest in the subject in question, improved written and oral communication skills, and increased self-confidence. A short review of this literature will accompany the presentations.

Please R.S.V.P. to Patricia Hoffman at phoffman@jcu.edu by Tuesday, September 27.