BE REAL:The 'Be Real' careers and life skills game is growing in popularity throughout the country. John Holdenfinds out why.
AS IF LIFE wasn't real enough, now you can pretend to live it in the comfort of your own classroom. Be Realis a guidance resource where students simulate "adult work and life by assuming life/work roles, working in small groups and functioning as communities".
The game was originally developed in Canada but was piloted here four years ago. Since then, it has been adopted in schools all over Ireland and the Second Level Support Service (SLSS) have trained in 270 guidance councillors already.
"There's been phenomenal interest in the Be Realgame," explains Elizabeth O'Keeffe of the SLSS. "Students are enjoying it and it's very beneficial. Fifty roles with 100 different jobs are featured in the game and students must deal with real-life issues. The needs of most students are reflected in the roles - everything from being a kitchen assistant to a level 8 graduate."
Students must make decisions relating to their budget, paying bills such as mortgage or rent, unexpected events and moral and ethical dilemmas.
"Having entered a persona, students must take on their particular role and consider issues such as salary and budget," says O'Keeffe. "For many of them, this may be their first real experience of having to budget. It makes them think about the importance of educational qualifications and how it can have a serious effect on their future careers.
"They also deal with social situations," she adds. "You might be 23 years of age, living at home with a child and then some unexpected life circumstance may change such as losing your job. Every student's role experiences job loss. They budget, decide where they're going to live, how to change their lifestyle, accommodation, transport, all those things. They must update their CV, apply for other jobs and are interviewed for a new position.
"In another work dilemma, stock goes missing from the office and a junior clerk is thought to be responsible. How does one handle such a situation?"
Irrespective of where your character ends up in life, five principles recur throughout the Be Realgame: change is constant; learning is ongoing; focus on the journeyfollow your heart and access your allies.
"Students are expected to understand the 'High Five' principles and use them to guide the decisions they make," says O'Keeffe.
A Be Realpack includes all the resources you need: a DVD, the roles, a glossary of terms and booklets for the students. It costs €150 but the training for teachers, which runs over two days, is free. For more information you can contact Elizabeth O'Keeffe, SLSS regional development officer and project leader, at lizokeeffe@slss.ie.
