“I suspect the Agent with the Record in the Place!”

The Records in Context (RiC) conceptual model represents a significant shift in archival description. While RiC offers a powerful framework for modeling archival contexts, its complexity can challenge educators, practitioners, and students seeking to teach or learn about it.

This interactive session proposes a game-based approach to teaching and learning RiC, inspired by the classic board game Clue. Participants will try to solve an archival ‘mystery’ by reconstructing the correct context of records using RiC entities and relationships. Through gameplay, participants will use linked data principles in an engaging environment to better understand RiC concepts.

The session will conclude with a debrief on how the game can be adapted to different institutions and contexts to support archival education. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and resources for introducing RiC in classrooms, organizations, and professional development settings.

Maya Bielinski
Maya Bielinski is a Master of Information student at the University of Toronto in the Archives and Records Management concentration. She previously practiced intellectual property law and has worked with technology companies on product strategy and human-centered design. She regularly teaches topics in intellectual property and technology with the OCAD University School of Continuing Studies. She is interested in enabling equitable access to knowledge and cultural resources through thoughtful copyright policy and sustainable digital practices. She also loves games.

Katherine King
Katherine King is a Combined Degree Program student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a Master’s of Information with a Archives and Records Management concentration as well as a Master’s of Museum Studies. Her research interests include intersections of identity with place and space, monument studies, media studies, ephemera, and democratizing historical practice. As an artist, she is happiest when she is making something. She loves collaborative storytelling and games.