GlobalEd SIMULATION OPPORTUNITIES

GlobalEd Project
Simulation Opportunities

Making the Web Your Virtual International Relations Classroom

Each academic year, the GlobalEd Project at UCONN offers simulation opportunities for high school and college students. Based on the computer-assisted simulation model developed by Project ICONS at the University of Maryland, GlobalEd conducts the following two simulations:

Global multi-issue fall simulation for high schools running from late October to early December.
Global multi-issue winter simulations for middle schools running from early January to mid February.
Global multi-issue spring simulation for high schools running from March to early April.

At the college level, GlobalEd offers opportunities for students to participate in the following simulations:

These simulations offer students the opportunity to put theory into practice. ICONS is a worldwide, multi-school, computer-assisted simulation that thrusts students into the world of high-powered international negotiations. ICONS helps students:

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

Simulation Structure: The ICONS exercise generally covers an entire semester and can be divided into three parts.

Phase 1: Preparation: In this phase students become familiar with the scenario and spend time researching their country's positions on key international issues. Students are acquiring the computer skills necessary for participation, and learning skills they will need to work in teams.

Phase 2: Simulation: Country-teams trade messages, participate in conferences, and update negotiating strategies in response to developments in the simulated world. Within teams, students learn to negotiate to reach agreement on their country's positions, and to communicate diplomatically.

Phase 3: Debriefing: This phase provides a systematic means for evaluating performance. Review of the sequences of messages allows for analysis of strengths and weaknesses in a particular series of negotiations.

For more information on how your school can participate in this project, contact:

Dr. Mark Boyer, Director
GlobalEd Project
Department of Political Science, U-24
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06239-1024
phone: (860) 486-3156
fax: (860) 486-3347
boyer@uconnvm.uconn.edu