A More Perfect Union

During Phase I in 2018, the team developed a prototype of a tablet-based app that provides students information about a role to play in a historical event, and instructions for teachers to run the simulation. In Phase II of the project, the team expanded the app to include more features such as virtual space for students to take notes, added a tool for students to cast votes with live tallies projected on a screen, created PDF curricular and guides for each role-play, and produced tutorial videos to show teachers how to use VOXPOP in their classroom. In response to COVID-19, the team also modified the VOXPOP software and facilitation guides to help teachers run role-plays in remote and hybrid classrooms. After development was completed, researchers conducted a pilot study. The study occurred during the pandemic and the product was implemented to students through virtual classrooms. Therefore, the research focused on student and educators self-reported perceptions of playing and learning from VOXPOP. The team collected data from ten classrooms (grade 9 – 11) that included five educators and 145 students. Results demonstrated that the majority of students reported enjoying the activities, that the experience helped them learn course objectives, that role playing of the historical event bears many similarities to issues of today, and that in order to solve community or political problems, students need to understand different perspectives.