Athens in Athens: The Student Experience

Marilyn Zapf

University of Georgia

One of the most important aspects of Reacting pedagogy (and one of the most obvious, to the outside observer) is that classes are for the most part student-led, and students do most of the talking in class.  The "Instructor" conducts some introductory and concluding classes for each game, and the "Gamemaster" advises students and sometimes intervenes in the action; but once the game begins, students run the class themselves.  In order to achieve their faction's objectives, students must not only hone their writing and speaking skills to become effective speakers in Assembly, they must also practice social skills and learn the value of teamwork and the art of consultation and negotiation.

A student enrolled in the first Reacting class at Georgia will describe and evaluate the course from the student's point of view.