The ICONS Project has designed a series of negotiation-based role-play exercises focused on specific contentious political issues. These simulations provide high school students with the opportunity to engage in negotiations via the Internet with classmates and with peers in other schools. In the last academic year, ICONS education simulations were used in 24 U.S. states and 9 foreign countries.
ICONS simulations are conducted in a customized on-line environment, known as ICONSnet. This environment is comprised of a variety of easy-to-use Web-based communications tools, along with resources that aid in developing student understanding of the actors and issues in the simulation. Some simulations are designed to include students from just one school (single-class simulations) while others bring together teams of students from schools throughout the U.S. and the world (distributed simulations).
| Distributed simulations | Learn more... |
| International System |
Fall 2008, Oct 27 - Nov 17
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 This multi-school simulation focuses on international security concerns, the global environment, humanitarian crises, and related issues. Student teams portray various nations and negotiate online with peers in other schools to develop solutions to important global issues. Offered for 3 weeks each Fall and Spring semester.
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| Berlin Blockade |
Scheduled by instructor |
 Introduce high school students to the major events of the early Cold War, using the Berlin crisis as a focal point. Participants in this simulation portray the leadership of the Western bloc nations as they work to form a response to the Soviet isolation of West Berlin.
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| Confronting Globalization |
Scheduled by instructor |
 Challenge students to examine the effects of globalization from a variety of perspectives as they portray six countries tasked with identifying a shared response to globalization among developed and developing nations. Students represent China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the UK.
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| Crisis in North Korea |
Scheduled by instructor |
 Explore the complexities of negotiating an end to a crisis in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and mistrust. This simulation places students in the roles of key global leaders as they attempt to determine the cause of a recent explosion in North Korea and de-escalate tensions between parties.
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| Economic Development in the Americas |
Scheduled by instructor |
 Representing the national governments of countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, students in this simulation will debate strategies for addressing development and trade issues in the region.
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| Globalization and Nigerian Oil |
Scheduled by instructor |
 Examine globalization through the case of oil-rich but debt-burdened Nigeria. Students play the roles of international, national, and local actors participating in negotiations critical to the future of the Niger River delta region.
Details... |
| International Relations of Africa |
Scheduled by instructor |
 This simulation engages students in addressing the security, economic, and health crises gripping many nations in Africa. Participants play the roles of diplomats from African countries challenged with developing regional solutions to these problems while also struggling to protect national interests.
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| International Relations of Southeast Asia |
Scheduled by instructor |
 Free trade expansion, security, public health, and environmental concerns are all under negotiation in this regional simulation, which casts students in the roles of diplomats from Southeast Asian countries. Participants must work together to craft agreements addressing critical issues facing the region.
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| International Whaling Commission |
Scheduled by instructor |
 Set within an intergovernmental organization, participants portray one of ten nations with varying positions and levels of involvement in whaling issues. Negotiations focus on whether the current commercial whaling moratorium should continue, although many countries have additional concerns.
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| U.S. Senate |
Scheduled by instructor |
 Illuminate the inner workings of committee politics in this simulation which casts students as Senators sitting on several committees. Throughout the simulation, students learn about the compromises and considerations necessary to create legislation as they consider, amend, and vote on a variety of bills at the committee level.
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| World War II and War Crimes |
Scheduled by instructor |
 In this simulation set at the end of the Second World War, students become global leaders tasked with decision-making at a key moment in the 20th century. Together, as the Allied powers, they must decide the appropriate legal framework and penalty structure for the defeated German leadership.
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