About the Scenarios

The Reagan Leadership Center is an immersive, educational experience designed to inspire the next generation of student leaders. The Reagan Leadership Center allows students to face the responsibilities and challenges faced by the executive branch, military, and media. While visiting the Reagan Leadership Center, students will have the opportunity to role play in a realistic, interactive environment. Students become advisors to the president, top level military officials, members of the White House Press Corps, or even President Reagan! Along with a combination of pre-visit curriculum materials and post-visit activities, students will practice and improve their critical thinking and decision-making skills.

Are you ready for a fully immersive learning experience for your students?

The Reagan Foundation is at the forefront of incorporating technology into its Education programs, and the Reagan Leadership Center is our crown jewel. During their field trip, students role-play as members of the Presidential cabinet in the Oval Office, as military leaders aboard an aircraft carrier's command center, and as members of the media in the White House Press Room. We provide videos, news clippings, group activities, and tablets for students to work through the above, intertwined scenarios.

The result? An unforgettable learning experience. But don't just take our word for it: watch the video below and read Western Digital's feature on The Power of Immersive Learning.

 

What Is Operation Urgent Fury?

The year is 1983 and democracy is about to face its biggest test since the Cuban missile crises. The island nation of Grenada become the new hot spot where the lives of American students hang in the balance. Players assume roles of President Reagan, cabinet members, military leaders and even the Press Corp, where they will make real-time decisions to bring our American students back safely while preserving stability in the region. The world is watching and awaiting your decision.

Oval Office

This room is a scaled replica of the Oval Office during the Reagan administration. Students assigned to this module become presidential advisors and must vote on the most effective way to protect the American medical students trapped on the island of Grenada. Discussion in this module focuses on international relations, the effects of military involvement in other countries, and the high price of protecting and maintaining freedom.

COMMAND DECISION CENTER

Students chosen to be military officers are transported to a situation room aboard an aircraft carrier. Students are tasked with planning "Operation Urgent Fury," the military invasion aimed at evacuating American students and establishing a democratic government in Grenada. Discussion in this module focuses on military strategy, emphasizing the safety of the students as the first priority of the mission.

PRESS ROOM

Student news reporters will find themselves working in a replica of the White House Press Room. They engage in uncovering the details of the highly classified "Operation Urgent Fury." Discussion in this module focuses on relevancy of sources, the freedoms of speech and press, and how the press can influence public opinion.

What is Operation KAL 007?

Tensions are peaking during the midst of the Cold War. A new international crisis has just kicked off after the crash of a Korean commercial airplane, and there is suspicion of foul play by the Soviet Union. As the President enters into reelection year, participants must navigate the moral and informational dilemma of making the best decision for reelection while keeping the American people out of harm’s way.

The Operation KAL 007 simulation centers on the downing of a Korean airliner 007 in September of 1983. Participants take on a variety of roles in this interactive experience, including advisors to the President, top level military officials, members of the press, correspondents, top secret security officials, and even the President!

The simulation’s three separate rooms interact with one another via room interplay. Players can send information and interact with one another in real-time, affecting the final outcome of the crisis at hand. As the President reaches new decisions with each round, rooms are updated and can respond throughout the simulation. The simulation’s numerous rounds of decision-making build gradually in tension and specifics, including escalating questions and sharing of more clandestine information.

This new gamification element makes Operation KAL 007 a unique and replayable experience that is fun and relevant for a range of ages. Because there are over 100 different possible endings to the simulation, every time and with every group, the outcome is different.

Oval Office

The President and cabinet member advisors must choose between diplomacy and military action on how to best respond to this international crisis, while ensuring the safety of the American people. Players must keep in mind election, international diplomacy, and world security.

COMMAND DECISION CENTER

Student teams consist of reporters who must collaborate with their editors to reach publication decisions as they receive information from sources around the world. Groups are posed with the dilemma of information sharing, deciding between credibility and profitability, while factoring in speed of delivery.

PRESS ROOM

Using top secret documents to decode a collection of messages and information, participants work to collectively solve the mystery of what happened to Korean Airliner 007. Three teams of NSA, CIA, and FBI agents must share information and work together to uncover the truth in order to best inform the President on how to respond to this international crisis.