Asemaan Group aims to bring systems thinking education to Iranian schools through games and stories (edutainment) to help develop important life skills. They have: 1) Conducted research and pilot programs in schools to develop educational materials on systems thinking. 2) Created games and animated stories to teach systems thinking concepts in a fun way. 3) Provided teacher training and support materials to facilitate use of the programs in schools. 4) Gathered feedback to evaluate and improve the programs from students, teachers, and parents. 5) Outlined plans to expand the programs to more schools and integrate systems thinking lessons into other subjects.

1. 1 Edutainment as a possible facilitator for Iranian social development: Bringing SystemsThinking to Iranian Schools through Games and Stories Asemaan Group, (Systems Thinking Research Center of Sharif University of Technology) گروه آسمان هسته پژوهشي تفكر سيستمي

2. 2 I. Who are We? Mission, history, present project and vision of Asemaan Group II. What is Asemaan’s output? The current project of bringing systems thinking to Iranian schools through games and stories III. How to help Asemaan? Discuss, criticize and provide feedback on ways To support and empower “Asemaan” Edutainment as a possible facilitator for Iranian social development

3. 3 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? Children’s Education Social development decision- making and performance of individuals Performance of Team/ organizations Individual skills I. I. Asemaan Mission

4. 4 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? Essential individual skills Future decision-makers I. I. Asemaan Mission Unfortunately some of the most essential skills are less-emphasized in current Iranian educational system Since today’s children will be tomorrow’s managers and decision makers, it is our duty to educate a capable young generation. Asemaan Mission: to provide Iranian children with some of the most decisive but unfortunately less-emphasized skills through edutainment.

5. 5 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? Essential individual skills Future planners I. I. Asemaan Mission Unfortunately some of the most essential skills are less-emphasized in current Iranian educational system Since today’s children will be tomorrow’s managers and decision makers, it is our duty to educate a capable young generation. Asemaan Mission: to provide Iranian children with some of the most decisive but unfortunately less-emphasized skills through edutainment.

6. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? I. II. Background and Future Plans Phase II: Developing output and organization Phase III: Developing output and organization Phase I: Formation stage 2007: Starting the professional activities 2001: Finalizing the mission 15 0 2006 2002 2004 2000 2010 2016 2014 2008 2012 2020 2018 6

7. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? I. II. Background and Future Plans Phase II: Developing output and organization Phase III: Developing output and organization Phase I: Formation stage 2008: Establishing the S.TH.R.C at Sharif University 2009: $75,000 fund by Mossalanejad Cultural Foundation 2009-10: Pilot in 3 schools (for 250 students) 2010-12: Evaluation & finalizing the S.Th. educational package 2007: Starting the professional activities 100 10 2001: Finalizing the mission 15 0 2006 2002 2004 2000 2010 2016 2014 2008 2012 2020 2018 7

8. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? I. II. Background and Future Plans Phase II: Developing output and organization Phase III: Developing output and organization Phase I: Formation stage 2008: Establishing the S.TH.R.C at Sharif University 2009: $75,000 fund by Mossalanejad Cultural Foundation 2009-10: Pilot in 3 schools (for 250 students) 2010-12: Evaluation & finalizing the S.Th. educational package 2012-16: Implementation in the schools of Tehran 2016-20: Promotion in 5 other province of IRAN 2012-15: Research stage of life skills educational package 2007: Starting the professional activities 100 10 2001: Finalizing the mission 15 0 2006 2002 2004 2000 2010 2016 2014 2008 2012 2020 2018 8

9. 9 I. Who are We? Mission, history, present project and vision of Asemaan Group II. What is Asemaan’s output? The current project of bringing systems thinking to Iranian schools through games and stories III. How to help Asemaan? Discuss, criticize and provide feedback on ways To support and empower “Asemaan” Edutainment as a possible facilitator for Iranian social development II.I. Importance and reasons II.II. The research process II.III. The output for schools

10. 10 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. I. Reasons and Importance Importance of system thinking Significance of Entertainment System thinking help people to be better planners in both their personal and social lives. Entertainment is one of the most effective ways of interaction with children. System thinking through games & stories

11. 11 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? Systems thinking I Introduction to systems thinking o Children Psychology Three schools (245 students) 10-12 year old Similar socio-economy class Comparable IQ range Educational effectiveness III II o Students’ feedback (Entertainment effectiveness) Teachers’ feedback Games Stories Education Parents feedback Edutainment IV Augmented aspects (family, school, evaluation) Social marketing II. II. Research Process Research Prototype Sample Study Evaluation Feb 08-Sep 09 Sep 09-Apr 10 May 10-Sep 10 2007-09 Feedback for improvement

12. 12 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? Planning Education II. III. Output for Schools Feedback & Evaluation Follow-up Process Bringing Systems Thinking to Iranian Schools through Games & Stories Games & Stories Training of teachers Structure Evaluation method Family Other systems School administration Other courses Social life

13. 13 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? Planning Education II. III. Output for Schools Feedback & Evaluation Follow-up Process Bringing Systems Thinking to Iranian Schools through Games & Stories Games & Stories Training of teachers Structure Evaluation method Family Other systems School administration Other courses Social life

14. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Process 1 2 4 3 1 Preparation pre-test Modification Planning Every Summer Post-test Feedback analysis Games sessions Stories sessions 14

15. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Process 1 2 4 3 2 Preparation pre-test Modification Planning Every September Post-test Feedback analysis Games sessions Stories sessions 15

16. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Process 1 2 4 3 3 Preparation pre-test Modification Planning The systems thinking class includes three sections: 1- playing a game / watching a cartoon 2- A class discussion about the game/story points 3- Share similar/ related observation of students Post-test Feedback analysis Games sessions Stories sessions 16

17. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Process 1 2 4 3 4 Preparation pre-test Modification Planning Every Spring feedbacks from students, School-teachers, Asemaan teachers, parents and experts is analyzed Post-test Feedback analysis Games sessions Stories sessions 17

18. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Process 1 2 4 3 6 5 Preparation pre-test Modification Planning Invite to join Asemaan (6 years after the program) Planning Follow-up Feedback about outcomes Post-test Feedback analysis Games sessions Stories sessions 18

19. I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Process 1 2 4 3 6 5 Preparation pre-test Modification Planning Invite to join Asemaan (6 years after the program) Planning Follow-up Feedback about outcomes Post-test Feedback analysis Games sessions Stories sessions 19

20. 20 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? Planning Education II. III. Output for Schools Feedback & Evaluation Follow-up Process Bringing Systems Thinking to Iranian Schools through Games & Stories Games & Stories Training of teachers Structure Evaluation method Family Other systems School administration Other courses Social life

22. Asemaan hand-note

24. Games and stories

25. QuestionnairesEvaluation method Asemaan intend to equip and empower teachers to play the main role in teaching systems thinking at school. Training of Teachers

27. Asemaan hand-note

29. QuestionnairesEvaluation method Asemaan intend to equip and empower teachers to play the main role in teaching systems thinking at school. Training of Teachers

31. Asemaan hand-note

33. QuestionnairesEvaluation method Asemaan intend to equip and empower teachers to play the main role in teaching systems thinking at school. Training of Teachers 

34. 24 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? Planning Education II. III. Output for Schools Feedback & Evaluation Follow-up Process Bringing Systems Thinking to Iranian Schools through Games & Stories Games & Stories Training of teachers Structure Evaluation method Family Other systems School administration Other courses Social life

35. 25 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Interaction with Other Systems Society Children Family School

36. 26 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Interaction with Other Systems Society - A number of sessions in Parent-Teacher-Interviews - A multimedia CD (will be available by 2011) - Systems thinking workshops at Sharif University (for interested parent/teachers) Children Family School

37. 27 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Interaction with Other Systems Society - All of the Asemaan services are free of charge for schools - School administration: closed interaction with/feedback from - For interested teachers: systems thinking workshops & interaction in modification of the output - Samples of systems thinking concepts in other courses (will be available by 2012) Asemaan intend to equip and empower teachers to play the main role in teaching systems thinking at school. Children Family School

38. 28 I. Who are We? II. Current Project III. How to Help Asemaan? II. III. Output for Schools / Interaction with Other Systems Society - Students’ assignment: their observation about the systems thinking concepts in their life Children Family School

39. 29 I. Who are We? Mission, history, present project and vision of Asemaan Group II. What is Asemaan’s output? The current project of bringing systems thinking to Iranian schools through games and stories III. How to help Asemaan? Discuss, criticize and provide feedback on ways To support and empower “Asemaan” Edutainment as a possible facilitator for Iranian social development Brief review: A 10-minute video report

41. A diverse and multidisciplinary human resource

42. Original and comprehensive products (such as systems thinking introduction hand-note, games, stories document)

43. Network with the most professional experts and most prestigious schools30

45. Academic collaboration/support in order to access to up-to-date knowledge

46. Financial support for the second phase and providing academic scholarships31

48. A diverse and multidisciplinary human resource

49. Original and comprehensive products (such as systems thinking introduction hand-note, games, stories document)

50. Network with the most professional experts and most prestigious schools

51. Ample feedback from different points of view (systems thinking, education, entertainment, administration)

52. Academic collaboration/support in order to access to up-to-date knowledge

53. Credit capital in order to help Asemaan improves its organization

54. Financial support for the second phase and providing academic scholarshipsThe most constructive supports (to our concept) - Feedback (about either Asemaan’s methods or outputs) - Join our projects 32

55. Thank you 33