HISToRe-Decision Curriculum

The RE-DECISION curriculum platform is an educational tool developed by Meddaugh & Gardiner, two high-school history teachers wanting their students to experience the past by putting themselves in the shoes of the historical players as they faced challenging decisions.

Each Re-Decision unit guides students through the process of understanding the historic context, exploring the options, weighing pros and cons, making choices, and comparing their decisions with the actual decisions made in history.

The goal of the exercise is not necessarily to come to the same decision that was made historically, but rather to make the best decision, whether it is the same or different. So, if in any case you know the actual decision and the outcome, pretend that you do not, and make your decision without hindsight.

This is a supreme exercise in critical thinking!

Students generally find this experience to be invigorating, highly educational, and perhaps best of all, fun. The value of this strategy is also supported by a tremendous amount of educational research.

Here is the process and rubric for each student's performance.

1. Each student will be assigned to be the "leader" for one of the unit decisions.

2. The "leader" is responsible for conducting a robust conference with his "advisors"--all the other students in the class.

3. The "leader" is responsible for maintaining order and ascertaining from everyone present the pros and cons of each option.

4. After the leader has heard from everyone and a robust discussion has completed, the leader will declare his/her decision.

5. The decision will not be assessed based on its historical alignment with the actual decision, but based on whether it was well-thought and supported with a convincing rationale.

6. The class will be taught what the actual outcome was of the decision and discuss whether the actual decision or the Re-Decision was superior.