Social Studies

7th, 8th, 9th, 10th

7th, 8th, 9th, 10th

Cuban Missile Crisis simulation as JFK

Cuban Missile Crisis simulation as JFK

Have students play the role of JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and simulate decision making while responding to updates from AI role-playing as advisors.

Have students play the role of JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and simulate decision making while responding to updates from AI role-playing as advisors.

Student session screenshot along with a picture of JFK and a rocket emoji.
Student session screenshot along with a picture of JFK and a rocket emoji.

Teaching goals

Teaching goals

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a pivotal event during the Cold War, but teaching the nuances of the personalities and decision-making at play during the Crisis can be challenging.

Below, we can see how a teacher can use Flint to create an AI tutor specifically designed to help students understand JFK’s dilemma during the Crisis. The teacher has supplemented the AI with two optional resources: a high-level summary of the event and a transcript of President Kennedy's Address to the Nation.

Extra customization

Extra customization

Next, Flint provided the teacher with three conversation formats to choose from. These ideas are generated automatically by the AI, based on the learning objective that the teacher provided.

Three tutor type options including a news report, role play, and interactive map, with the role play being selected.

The teacher chose the role play that requires students to imagine themselves in the shows of JFK and have them apply their knowledge to a conversation with an AI advisor to the President. To assign this activity for students to complete, the teacher can set a deadline for students to interact with the AI (e.g. ahead of an in-class discussion).

Screenshot of student session with the deadline set for Monday at 11:05am.

Student experience

Student experience

In the conversation with the AI, students can play the role of JFK and navigate the Cuban Missile Crisis. The AI will play the role of President Kennedy’s advisors, and will challenge the student’s understanding of the crisis.

Screenshot of student session where Flint is pushing the student to consider the risks and benefits of their decision.

To increase immersion, students can use Flint’s speech-to-text feature to speak to the AI, and click “listen” to hear the AI speak back to them.

Screenshot of student session showing how students can speak a message aloud to the tutor.

Dark plum background with light painstroke lines on the corners

Learning feels different when it fits you.

Streak of orange highlighter
Dark plum background with light painstroke lines on the corners

Learning feels different when it fits you.

Streak of orange highlighter
Dark plum background with light painstroke lines on the corners

Learning feels different when it fits you.

Streak of orange highlighter