Back to the future: A fresh look at career building!

Real Times, Real Life is being used in Adult Education programs in a variety of settings, including correctional centres, community colleges, and community-based programs. Adults in transition explore - through role-playing and the creation of a simulated society - the changing world of work from 1900 to the early 21st century.

The use of decision-making and adaptability skills is the key to the program. Real Times, Real Life results in the development of an individual Action Plan.

Game Specs:

• Targeted for adults-late teens to retirement.
• Appropriate for use in postsecondary education and training settings, dislocated worker and human services programs, One-Stop Career Centres and community resource centres, vocational rehabilitation and corporate outplacement centres, correctional institutions and military transition centres.
• Participants leave behind "baggage" (fears and doubts, low self-esteem, pessimism, sense of failure) and adopt realistic but safe roles from which they can see themselves and their futures in positive, hopeful and constructive ways.
• Organized in three units with a total of 19 core sessions, each with lesson plans and all materials required.
• Optional activities and discussion topics are included for use at the discretion of educators.
• Includes about 22 hours of learning (more with optional activities).
• Activities and materials are easily linked to local community resources and realities.
• Modular structure allows flexibility in delivery.
• Program can be completed in a week, over several weeks interspersed with other interventions, or during evenings and weekends.
• All sessions have specific learning outcomes compliant with the Blueprint for Life/Work Designs.
• Complements other career and labour market resources.
• Increases interest in, use and applicability of interest and aptitude tests, career information resources (e.g. print, computer-based, video, Internet, etc.), and other programs.