No, BRAVE Is Not CRT. Unless You're Talking About the Other CRT.
Welcome to BRAVE COURSE GAMIFYING U.S. HISTORY, a Game Theory approach to social studies that empowers students to use Next Generation Science Standards to build a living model of the past. Whereby students compete and collaborate to reveal multiple worldviews in dynamic situations, then organize data according to scientific principles: cause & effect; sequencing; patterning. If so, players use the same content to collaborate in solving an applicable dilemma. It’s epic! And students love it. To simplify rollout, all BRAVE games are structured identically, meaning if a person knows how to play one BRAVE game, they can play ‘em all! Plus, all games are played around the same board game surface, making it easier to bundle purchases. And, since games are aligned to meet ELA, C3, Indian Education for All (IEFA) & SEL, it’s easy to give students an extra 10 minutes for recess. Too good to be true?
FAQs:
“Are BRAVE games CRT?” Culturally Responsive Teaching, yes! Gamification is naturally student-centered, meaning teachers’ opinions are uninvited at the board game surface—left, right or center. Learning scaffolds ensure every student can take a deep dive into historically accurate financial data and a massive library of primary sources, especially when it comes to IEFA source material. Besides inclusivity, another driver is ensuring educators make the shift from teachers to facilitators; and by extension, from fostering transactional relationships to transformative ones. Because finding one’s voice is a life-long challenge, and learning how to make it vibe within a symphony of other voices is an art.
“I get that people on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation value BRAVE games. But what about the rest of Wyoming?” Mmmm, are you asking if BRAVE games are CRT, as in Critical Race Theory? No. I built BRAVE games using Theory of Mind and Game Theory. Theory of Mind studies the role empathy plays in cognition. Why is empathy important? Empathy is a skill used to identify others’ feelings and thoughts in an attempt to understand motivation. If so, a careful observer can anticipate and navigate best next moves. Meanwhile, Game Theory, a branch of mathematics, studies strategies for maximizing gains or minimizing losses in competitive situations that have defined constraints and involve random factors. The overall goal? To practice separating and integrating affect and cognition as a pathway to intelligent decision making.
“Indian Education for All? Meh. Shouldn’t that stay on Reservations?” With 574 Native nations woven into the fabric of the United States, legally, economically, and socially—BRAVE is an unprecedented examination of U.S. History. The idea of integrating Native nations into our traditional overarching narrative stems from living in Wyoming. Here, I am constantly in awe of Native nations use of Traditional Ecological Knowledge to honor the source of their wellbeing, call it what you will, science or Creator. Between an an abundance of unspoiled public land, including the headwaters of three separate watersheds, endless mountain ranges in every direction, twirling aspen and purple lupine, and treasured historical sites like the Medicine Wheel and Shoshone petroglyphs. In the same breath, I wonder if my great grandchildren will be able to enjoy Wyoming as I have. Kids, can you hear me? Democracy is delicate; water is life.
Stay tuned for more information about BRAVE! We can’t wait to share more info, such as: oodles of brain science that backs this tactile approach; student interviews that suggest gaming may be the key to creating smarter, kinder, more resilient children; methods that keep students moving from strength to strength in literacy, math, and kindness; and more!