TEACHING COMPANION
The World We Make
What can change when the weapons stay the same?
Constructivism, the Cold War & the landmine ban · 60–90 min · 5 episodes
Learning goals
- Explain how ideas, identities, and norms can change what capabilities mean to different actors.
- Compare constructivist explanations with material and institutional accounts.
- Use named historical records to revise a prediction and assess a coalition strategy.
Class setup & submission
Start For Class and enter your name. Course or section is optional. Complete twelve explanations and the evidence-based P01 revisit. Each requires at least 15 words (195 total). For Fun keeps separate progress and offers optional writing.
When the Class assignment is complete, choose Print / Save PDF and upload the PDF to Canvas. If assigned, also submit the separate assessment-data JSON for batch grading.
Students type their written responses in For Class.
Course materials
Before the activity
Historical evidence is included. The sources and evidence limits are available before play.
Syllabus description
Two armed rivals meet. Investigate the end of the Cold War and the campaign to ban landmines. Carry records between exhibits, test an inspection protocol, and defend a coalition strategy before you revisit your first prediction. Students produce a class pdf with 12 explanations, the evidence-based prediction revisit, and the decisions and records behind them.
Discussion prompts
- Which record changed how you read the relationship between the rivals?
- Which parts of the landmine campaign are easier to explain with an account of norms?
- What material or institutional rival explanation still deserves consideration?
What to assess
Use the instructor guide’s 0–3 criteria for mechanism, evidence, rival explanations, and revision. The local grading workspace can import separate assessment-data JSON when assigned.
Grade across the class
In the game, open Instructor desk, enter 5907, and select Open instructor grading workspace. If you assign batch grading, ask for the separate assessment-data JSON alongside the Class PDF. Import the assessment-data files in the grading workspace.
Review one question across the class or read one student’s report. Score and edit feedback manually, then export grades or individual reports. Download a grading backup before leaving the browser.
Limitations
Historical records are sourced and the cases occur across different places and dates. Workshop choices and their outcomes are hypothetical.
Credit & permissions
Created by Yoav Duman. Free educational use, sharing and hosted embedding; software rights reserved. See the reuse information for software, artwork, branding and third-party materials.
Suggested citation
Yoav Duman, “The World We Make: Teaching companion,” Trouble in Common, https://trouble-in-common.ishmaldon.chatgpt.site/teaching/the-world-we-make. Include your access date.
ASSESSMENT & SUBMISSION
Assess the reasoning.
Set an endpoint and tell students which report or response record to upload to your course website. Use the activity’s own grading guide when available.
A suggested 10-point rubric
Give each criterion 0 points if absent, 1 if partial and 2 if clear and supported. Adjust the weighting to fit the activity.
- Concepts / 2
- Use a relevant international relations concept accurately.
- Evidence / 2
- Support a claim with a specific record or comparison.
- Mechanism / 2
- Show how actors, rules or pressures connect to the outcome.
- Revision / 2
- Consider a rival explanation or explain what changed your mind.
- Limits / 2
- Identify what remains uncertain and what evidence would help.
Before students begin
- Choose For Class if the activity offers a mode switch. Follow the endpoint your instructor assigns.
- Keep a progress backup when the activity offers one, especially before changing devices or websites.
- Review your responses and export the report or files listed in the assignment.
- Upload your work to the course website and check for the submission confirmation.
A progress backup restores a session. The readable report shows the work you’re asking students to explain or defend.
Prepare an assignment to share.
Edit this text, then copy it into Canvas or your course website. These edits stay in this tab.
Syllabus description & discussion prompts
Syllabus description
Two armed rivals meet. Investigate the end of the Cold War and the campaign to ban landmines. Carry records between exhibits, test an inspection protocol, and defend a coalition strategy before you revisit your first prediction. Students produce a class pdf with 12 explanations, the evidence-based prediction revisit, and the decisions and records behind them.
Questions for a discussion board or class debrief
- Which record changed how you read the relationship between the rivals?
- Which parts of the landmine campaign are easier to explain with an account of norms?
- What material or institutional rival explanation still deserves consideration?