Overview
The International Communication and Negotiation Simulations (ICONS) Project offers opportunities for secondary schools to participate in a computer-assisted international relations simulation conducted over the Internet.

Pioneered at the University of Maryland, ICONS began in the early 1980s as a tool for helping students gain a better grasp of the complexity of international issues. It was designed to enhance student learning by encouraging the development of critical thinking skills, better understanding of the connections among contemporary international issues, and an appreciation of cultural differences in approaches to international problem-solving. Students are presented with the opportunity to understand and actively experience the structures and functions of the international political system, the interdependence of political systems and their impact on global issues. Students are cast in the role of diplomats from nations other than their own and research problems and develop policies on issues of international importance such as international debt, nuclear proliferation, human rights, trade, narcotics trafficking, and the global environment.

ICONS uses an innovative approach to technology that supports active and interactive learning in the social studies curriculum. Students use the Internet to conduct their research, a word processor to compose their research proposals and policy initiatives. Moreover, the web-based software that supports the ICONS' simulation promotes students' communication skills. The ICONS' simulation process does this in a way that fosters collaboration among students. In fact, the simulation is conducted on two levels: within the teams and between the teams. Within a team, students research their assigned country, and working as a group, formulate their country's foreign policy and negotiation strategies. The teams then communicate their policies and conduct international negotiations with the other country-teams. During the simulation, the country-team groups continue to meet to discuss strategies and responses to other teams' proposals. Although participants are encouraged to be creative in developing solutions to international problems, they are always bound by the interests and constraints of their particular countries.

Participation in an ICONS simulation allows students to:

• Use computers for multinational communication.
• Create and test negotiation strategies;
• Improve communication skills;
• Understand the interdependence of international issues;
• Appreciate cultural differences and approaches to world problems;
• Work in teams to solve problems.

How a Simulation Works
An ICONS simulation involves classes of students at various secondary schools around the world. Country-teams are linked via the Internet to a University of Maryland host computer.

A scenario, which launches the exercise, outlines the state of the world based on present-day facts, and sets the stage for the interactions both within and among country-teams. The simulation includes both the asynchronous exchange of diplomatic communications and computer-assisted real-time conferences. Conferences are scheduled to focus on each of the issues in the simulation. They follow a detailed agenda and are chaired by ICONS staff.

Before the simulation begins, students conduct extensive research on their assigned country and the issues. They produce a position paper which specifies country goals and strategies, and lays the foundation for their negotiation in the simulation. After the simulation, the instructor should engage the students in debriefing exercises and assignments to apply the simulation experience to the real world.

ICONS offers two types of high school level simulations:

International System Simulations
The International System simulation is offered three times a year and lasts four weeks. It is set in the contemporary world. During recent runs of the simulation, the scenarios have focused on problem areas in contemporary international relations, including:

• Peacekeeping and peacemaking
• Human rights
• World health, including nutrition, population, and AIDS
• The impact of environmental issues on the global agenda
• Debt and development issues
• International trade

Regional Simulation
International Relations of the Americas is offered once a year and lasts three weeks. It focuses on critical issues for cooperation between the North American nation-states. Students engage in negotiations on issues such as economic integration, environmental degradation and narco-trafficking.

Single-Classroom Simulation: International Whaling Commission
Our newest ICONS simulation, the International Whaling Commission (IWC), is a negotiation process exercise that supports courses wholly of primarily focussed on environmental politics. A scenario, background, and other materials are provided so that you can run the exercise quickly, with minimal need for external research. The IWC is designed to be run with students from a single class. The simulation's flexible structure allows you to schedule it at any point in semester. [Details. . .]

For More Information
Please consult the ICONS User Manual, which addresses all aspects of participation in an ICONS simulation. Various chapters deal with a number of issues critical to effective participation, and offer specific guidelines on such matters as organizing students into country-teams, developing position papers, setting up communication procedures, evaluation, and using the ICONS software.

For more information about Project ICONS or specific simulations, please contact ICONS, at (301) 405-4172 or by e-mail at icons@gvpt.umd.edu.