IMC 2024: Sessions

Session 1538: Learning the Middle Ages through Modern Games, I: Designing Games

Thursday 4 July 2024, 09:00-10:30

Sponsor:	The Middle Ages in Modern Games / The Public Medievalist / Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Research, University of Winchester
Organiser:	Tess Watterson, Department of Historical & Classical Studies, University of Adelaide
Moderator/Chairs:	James Baillie, Institut für Iranistik, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien Tess Watterson, Department of Historical & Classical Studies, University of Adelaide
Paper 1538-a	'Welcome to the 14th Century': Playing the Black Death in the History Classroom (Language: English) Ariana Ellis, Department of History, University of Toronto Index terms: Medicine, Medievalism and Antiquarianism and Teaching the Middle Ages
Paper 1538-b	St Brendan and the Crisis of Medieval Language Learning (Language: English) Jacob Abell, Department of Modern Languages & Cultures, Baylor University, Texas Lynn Ramey, Department of French & Italian, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee Index terms: Language and Literature - Other, Medievalism and Antiquarianism and Teaching the Middle Ages
Abstract	Games can be powerful learning tools when designed by informed educators and historians. This is particularly true for learning challenging historical topics, both in terms of sensitive or sensationalised histories like plague crises, and areas such as language learning that can pose barriers to engagement without deliberate efforts at innovative pedagogy. Designing games for learning is not only about conveying historical knowledge but crucially aims to build historical skills and critical thinking through play. The papers in this session explore educator’s experiences in designing and implementing new games that prioritise historical learning as their core function.