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EVOLUTION IN KANSAS 1999

Kansas, 1999: Evolution or Creationism

by David E. Henderson and Taz Daughtrey

Should Kansas students learn about Evolution and the Big Bang Theory?

Christian Conservatives on the Kansas Board of Education have deleted macroevolution and Big Bang cosmology from the state science curriculum. The game centers on the election of a new Board of Education which must, for legal reasons, revisit the decision. Students will campaigns for office through press conferences, sponsored debates, and are encouraged to involve the larger campus community in the issues. Following the election, the Board meets to resolve the science curriculum issue.

This game raises many questions about the role of religion in American society, the power of religious fundamentalism in the modern world, and the nature of science. Faculty can tailor the course to focus more on issues of civil religion or on modern Cosmology and evolutionary theory.

This is a Level 3 game that is still under development but has been approved by the Reacting Editorial Board (REB) for general use. A detailed explanation of the editorial process and game levels can be found on our REB Page.

ABOUT THE GAME

Details

Disciplines
Cultural and Social History; History of Science and Technology; Philosophy, Political Science and Government; Religion; STEM


Era 

20th Century; Contemporary Era


In a Few Words

Science vs. Religion


Geography 
North America

Player Interactions 

Factional, Competitive


Sample Class Titles
First Year Seminar, Science and Society, History of American Education


Level
Level 3 game (what's that mean?)


Notable Roles

Patrick Hill, Dr. Dane Holtzman, Eloise Lynch

Mechanics 
Rolling Dice, Differentiated Voting, Formal Podium Rule


Chaos and Demand on Instructor 
This game is mildly chaotic and mildly demanding on the instructor.


Primary Source Highlights 
Darwin, Origin of Species; Hume, Dialogues on Natural Religion; Margulis, Microcosmos

Using the Game

Class Size and Scalability 
This game is recommended for classes with 12-30+ students, although it has also been played in large classes of up to 60.

Class Time  
For this game, 2 to 3 setup sessions and 5 to 6 game sessions are recommended.


Possible Reacting Game Pairings
This game can be used on its own, or with other games. These pairings are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive or prescriptive. Kansas, 1999 may pair well with:


Assignments
You can adjust the assignments based on the desired learning outcomes of your class. This game can include traditional paper/research/thesis-driven writing and science writing. All roles are required to give formal speeches.


GAME MATERIALS

Reacting Consortium members can access all downloadable materials (including expanded and updated materials) below. You will be asked to sign in before downloading.  Basic game materials (Gamebook, Role Sheets, Instructor's Guide, and Handouts) are available to any instructor through the publisher. 

Please Fill out the Permissions Request Form Before Using Evolution in Kansas in Your Class!

Gamebook

Students need a Gamebook, which includes directions, resources, and historical content.

VERSION 8.1, Updated December 2023.
.docx file

Role Sheets and Add'l Materials

Students also need a Role Sheet, which contains biographical information, role-specific resources or assignments, and their character's secret victory objectives. 

VERSION 8.1, Updated December 2023.
.zip folders with .docx files

Instructor's Manual


The Instructor's Manual includes guidance for assigning roles, presenting historical context, assignments, activities and discussion topics, and more.  

VERSION 8.1, Updated December 2023.
.docx file


ABOUT THE AUTHORS 

David E. Henderson

David E. Henderson is Professor Emeritus at Trinity College (Connecticut). He is the author of several Reacting game modules on science, public policy, and religion.

Taz Daughtrey

Taz Daughtrey leads cybersecurity education at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg. He previously taught at James Madison University, primarily undergraduate and graduate secure software engineering, and managed grant-funded statewide service and academic research projects. He is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality, Founding Editor of its peer-reviewed quarterly journal Software Quality Professional, and Director of the American Software Testing Qualifications Board.

QUESTIONS

Members can contact game authors directly

We invite instructors join our Facebook Faculty Lounge, where you'll find a wonderful community eager to help and answer questions. We also encourage you to submit your question for the forthcoming FAQ, and to check out our upcoming events


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reacting@barnard.edu

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