Online History Simulation: Rwanda U.N. Taskforce Rebuilding a Nation after the Genocide Curriculum

Abstract

This history simulation follows a unit on the Rwanda genocide in 1994. Students work as a small group team of the United Nations to begin the process to rebuild the country. Before the work can begin, the team must understand the short- and long-term barriers created by the history forces that fostered the genocide. Understanding these history forces presents alternative history narratives that will impede or support change to occur. With the short time frame for the learning activity, the small group will begin to explore the complexity of beginning the healing process for a nation ravaged by this tragic event. A comprehensive reconstruction plan will be required to begin the process of rebuilding a country and a people. The simulation receives approval by the students. As noted above, an evaluation form is completed by the students. It is partially a reflection on what they learned and partially an evaluation with suggestions to change. Often, those changes are reflected in the curriculum which is updated annually. This simulation has been used each semester for over seven years. It has been effectively used in classes of 30 over the past six years.