ICONSnet has relaunched with a more powerful, efficient, and secure backend which allows for more powerful research and educational tools. This upgrade to ICONSnet 4.0 enables integration with external AI systems, computational models, and software platforms while maintaining secure and reliable core functionality. These new features will support new research endeavors including the new Complexity Solutions Lab headed by ICONS director Dr. Robert D. Lamb, along with the simulations ICONS is known for.
ICONS’s 25+ education simulations allow students to experience near real world scenarios that demonstrate what practitioners in their chosen fields experience. As START Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Dr. Thomas Guarrieri says “students can understand… in the abstract, but it’s only when they actually have an experience that they can really understand the challenges and the complexities and the limitations that policy makers face in the real world”. Since its conception, ICONS has worked to provide experiential learning for everyone from middle school students to international MBAs to high level government officials.
ICONS simulations can fill the gaps that students and instructors feel in our changing world. When COVID-19 stopped in-person instruction, ICONS stimulations allowed students to work collaboratively from anywhere. Washington University St. Louis and Universidad del ISTMO instructor Dr. Habib Chamoun used ICONS simulations in the classroom before COVID but found that during the pandemic ICONS sims allowed students a meaningful asynchronous experience, and improved synchronous zoom meetings. Beyond COVID and distance learning, the ICONS platform offers other teaching and learning opportunities; Dr. Chamoun “had the experience of mixing students from France and the US” and found the experience of mixing students across continents allowed even deeper learning in his field of international relations. He also encourages his colleagues across fields to try an ICONS simulation “think outside the box” and give your students a “complete global vision”.
ICONS simulations can also address other emerging challenges instructors face; as University of Maryland, Baltimore County professor Dr. Brigid Starkey shares “are you worried about the effects of AI on the integrity of learning in your classroom? If so, consider using an ICONS simulation. Scenario and role sheets are provided… however it is the students who create their own curriculum through negotiation briefs and debrief assignments and the development that they drive through their interactive dialogues.” Using ICONS scenarios reduces the possibility that students could “cheat” by using AI while allowing students to see where using AI can enhance their experience through ICONSnet’s integrated and connected tools. With instructor support, ICONS simulation can show students how the use of AI aligns with instructional goals and prepares students for use of AI in their future careers.
We are excited that this new iteration of ICONS will allow for even more powerful scenarios, powerful research, and most importantly powerful solutions to complex problems. We look forward to working, learning, and growing with ICONS and the ICONS community.