Menu
Log in
Forgot password

       

Search


Join fellow engaged educators at the 2026 Reacting to the Past Summer Institute in New York City. From June 4-7--with optional welcome activities on June 3rd)--we will offer our signature mix of deep and engaging workshop runs of games new and old, thoughtful concurrent sessions, and working groups dedicated to addressing pressing questions facing instructors at this moment. With a great array of game options both long and short, key pedagogical insights, and the best community you'll find in education, we look forward to seeing you at the Reacting Summer Institute! 

PROGRAM 

The Reacting pedagogy is best understood by experiencing as students do, albeit in abbreviated versions. Reacting game workshops offer a condensed gameplay experience, while covering broader context for the simulation and mechanics, and includes post-game guidance on how to use it in your own classroom. As such, game workshops are central to our conference programming. 

Participants will be sent a Gamebook outlining the topics and debates of a specific historical moment, as well as a detailed a Role Sheet for their historical actor in those debates. Participants prepare and engage as that historical actor, making arguments and forging alliances to achieve specific Victory Objectives. You need not be a specialist to play, or to run a Reacting game, but you should plan on doing some preparatory reading. 

Options
During this four-day event (see schedule below), you have overall programming two options:

  • Two Reacting Game Workshops
     You'll play two Reacting games in succession: one full-length game on Thursday and Friday, and one short game on Saturday and Sun    day. 

or

  • One Reacting Game Workshop and One Newbie Workshop
     You'll play one Reacting game on Thursday-Friday, and then partake in a hands-on workshop series designed to walk you through the process of syllabus revision, assessment strategies, and curricular integration, so you'll feel confident when implementing Reacting to the Past. This option is recommended for Reacting Newbies, and for cohorts from the same school.  

Regardless of which of the above options you choose, all participants can attend additional concurrent sessions and working groups with experienced Reacting faculty and students. 

GAME WORKSHOP OPTIONS

June 4 - 5 

    June 6 - 7  

    SCHEDULE 
    All times in local Eastern Time Zone

    Wednesday, June 3 

    4:00 - 10:00 PM
    DORMS OPEN FOR CHECK-IN
    Stop by to get your welcome packet, badge, and room key, if you're staying on campus.


    7:00 - 9:00 PM 

    OPENING MICROGAMES (OPTIONAL)
    We invite all participants, whether you're new to the Reacting pedagogy or an old pro, to meet us in the Milstein Center to break the ice by playing a game with other participants.

    Thursday, June 5

    8:00 - 9:00 AM
    CHECK-IN, BREAKFAST, AND WELCOME PLENARY

    9:00 - 10:30 AM

    FIRST GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION A
    Setup, Historical Context, and Faction Meetings 
    The game workshop offers a condensed gameplay experience, context for the simulation, and includes post-game guidance on how to use Reacting in your own classes. You'll be sent a Gamebook, as well as a detailed a role sheet. During the game, you participate as your role, making arguments and forging alliances to achieve specific objectives. The first session will cover historical context, game set-up, and faction meetings. Choose one of five games: 
    11:00 - 12:30 PM
    CONCURRENT SESSIONS
    12:30 - 2:00 PM
    LUNCH AND PROGRAMMING
    2:15 - 3:30 PM
    FIRST GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION B
    Debate and Discussion
    Your game begins in earnest. During the game, you participate as your role, making arguments and forging alliances to achieve specific objectives. You'll get through one third to one half of the game in this session.
    3:30 - 5:00 PM
    CONCURRENT SESSIONS
    5:30 PM

    DINNER GROUP MEET-UPS

    One of the best parts of SI is the chance to meet and get to know new people who share your commitment to student learning. If you'd like to join a group outing to a local restaurant, we'll ask you to sign up during the day so we can arrange for reservations. The cost of the meal is on you, but we'll handle the logistics and provide each group with an experienced Reactor who knows the lay of the land.

    Friday, June 6

    8:00 - 9:00 AM
    BREAKFAST
    9:30 - 10:30 AM 
    FIRST GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION C
    You'll wrap up the in-character aspects of your first game during this session.
    10:30 - 11:00 AM
    COFFEE BREAK
    11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    FIRST GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION D
    Debrief and Post-Mortem 
    The final session includes time for de-roling (from the role you played), debriefing the game, discussion of "what actually happened" in history and connections to larger themes or contemporary events. The Post-Mortem is a pedagogical debrief in which you discuss game mechanics and implementation. As always, the GM will leave time for questions. 

    Saturday, June 7

    8:00 - 9:00 AM
    BREAKFAST
    9:00 - 10:30 PM
    NEWBIE WORKSHOP - SESSION 1
    A Hands-On Workshop: Prepare to Teach with Reacting 
    You've got questions, and we've got answers.  And samples. So many samples.

    SECOND GAME WORKSHOP - SESSION 1
    Setup, Historical Context, and Faction Meetings 
    The game workshop offers a condensed gameplay experience. The first session will cover historical context, game set-up, and faction meetings. Choose one of four games: 

    10:30 - 11:00

    COFFEE BREAK 

    11:00 - 12:30

    CONCURRENT SESSIONS 

    12:30 - 2:00 PM
    LUNCH AND PRESENTATIONS
    2:00 - 3:30 PM
    NEWBIE WORKSHOP OR GAME WORKSHOP  
    3:30 - 5:00 PM
    CONCURRENT SESSIONS 

    Sunday, June 8

    8:00 - 9:00 AM
    BREAKFAST
    9:00 - 10:30 AM
    NEWBIE WORKSHOP OR SECOND GAME WORKSHOP 

    10:30 - 11:00 AM

    COFFEE BREAK
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM


    CLOSING PLENARY

    PRICING
    REGISTRATION RATES 

    The rates include all conference events and game materials as well as four breakfasts, four coffee breaks, and two lunches. We've worked hard this year to lower costs for participants, and you'll want to sign into your membership account to register at the member rate. If you're not yet a member of the Consortium? Become a member today and save!

      Until March 15 March 16-April 30May 1 and After
    Grad Student/TA  $400 $450  $500
    Consortium Member  $450  $550  $600
    Non-Member  $550  $650  $700

    THE DANA JOHNSON GORLIN FELLOWSHIP FUNDED REGISTRATION 
    The Dana Johnson Gorlin Fellowship covers registration, travel, and housing for one instructor to attend the conference. Read more about Dana, the fellowship, previous recipients, and how to apply. Applications and nominations are due March 15, 2026. 

    FUNDED REGISTRATION FOR DEI ADVANCEMENT
    The Reacting Consortium is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. We have funded registration for instructors who are members of historically underrepresented and marginalized identity groups, and/or for those teaching at minority-serving institutions (HBCUs, Tribal colleges and universities, AAPI and Hispanic-serving institutions). If you are interested in applying for one of these spots, please send an email to reacting@barnard.edu with the subject line “Funded Summer Institute Spot” by May 1 (the sooner the better as we tend to fill these spots quickly). Approved applicants will be able to register for free. Please apply and share with colleagues.


    LODGING 

    This year, we'll be in our usual digs in Sulzberger Tower.  You can reserve a bed for $95/night, which includes basic linens. At the point of registration, you can indicate if you'd like to share a room with a friend or colleague, otherwise we will sort registrants into their own rooms, onto floors separated by gender.




    FAQ


    CAN I ONLY PARTICIPATE IN ONE GAME?

    If you choose to play both Game Workshops, then you'll be able to play two games. If you instead choose to do the Newbie Workshop, you'll only play a game for the first two days. If you can only attend two days, please reach out to jworth@barnard.edu to find out what is possible. 

    ARE ALL GAMES APPROPRIATE FOR NEWCOMERS, OR NON-SPECIALISTS?

    All of the games for the first two-day workshop are appropriate for newcomers to Reacting, as well as non-specialists in these topics. And in general, newcomers can participate in any of our games. 

    WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE GAME WORKSHOP? 

    First of all: fun! In terms of practical details: Participants will be sent a Gamebook (either digitally or a hardcopy in the mail) outlining the topics and debates of a historical moment, as well as a detailed a role sheet for a historical actor in those debates. Participants prepare and engage as that historical actor, making arguments and forging alliances to achieve specific Victory Objectives. You need not be a specialist to play (or run) a Reacting game, but you should plan on doing some preparatory reading. 


    I HAVE A CONFLICT FOR PART OF THE GAME WORKSHOP SESSIONS, CAN I STILL ATTEND?

    Yes. While it's not ideal, you can absolutely still attend. Please make note of your conflict when you register so we can try to work around it in casting, and we can let your GM know.  


    STILL GOT QUESTIONS? 

    Email us at reacting@barnard.edu and we'll try to answer them!

                        REGISTER NOW                            



    UPCOMING EVENTS

    Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software