Mark Carnes, author of Minds on Fire: How Role-Immersion Games Transform College, gave a lecture about his book Thursday, March 3 in the Halle Library Auditorium to a group of 20 people. Four former EMU students who were featured in the book were also present to discuss their experiences.
According to a university press release, Carnes is the “originator of ‘Reacting to the Past,’ a college method of teaching that involves elaborately designed games in which students assume historical roles from a famous moment in history, and then pursue the goals of their assigned character – in collaboration with some classmates and in opposition to others.”
Carnes began the lecture by discussing the process of writing his book. He said that “Eastern Michigan was a big part of that intellectual project.” According to a university press release, Carnes gathered material for his book in 2010-11, when he served as the Thelma McAndless Distinguished Professor at EMU.
Carnes then turned over the lecture to the four students featured in the book; James Tatum, Jessica Howell, Vinnie Massimino and Olivia Mbala-Nkanga. The EMU alumni took turns talking about their experiences with Reacting to the Past.
Tatum said that Reacting to the Past made him want to win, and students wanted their classmates to do well so they could do well.
“The fact that it’s a game really changed the experience,” he said.
“I liked reenacting because it provided a level of engagement that other classes didn’t provide,” Massimino said. “Its critical thinking.”
Audience members were also given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments about Reacting to the Past. One questions asked was how to work with students who seem uncomfortable with public speaking and competition.
Howell suggested that professors use their discretion and consider giving people different roles. Others on the panel noted that reacting games are not routine.
“That’s life,” Carnes said. “The game changes.”
Another question asked was how to respond to objectors and if there is any danger that students might not get out of their role.
Tatum compared students playing roles in the game to an actor playing a role in the film. He used the example of Anthony Hopkins playing the role of Hannibal Lecter to answer that question.
“I don’t think he came out of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ thinking maybe its okay to eat people,” Tatum said.
Carnes also told the audience that all games go under a review process. This includes testing games and evaluation by an editorial board.
“We want to make the games as good of an educational experience as possible,” he said.
Carnes’ lecture was followed by a regional conference Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5 at EMU.
