The Be Real Game
I’m Liz and in this weekly blog I’m going to be talking about the Be Real Game. The Game is a teaching resource that involves role play and allows students to experience the challenges of adult work and life in a simulated setting, working in small groups and operating as communities.
The Second Level Support Service offers training in the Game to Guidance Counsellors, initially as a guidance resource for Transition Year students. Experiential learning and active teaching methodologies underpin the approach to teaching the Game. Students experience a simulation of adult work and life by assuming life/work roles, working in small groups and functioning as communities.
Roles are the key element in the Be Real Game because these set out characteristics, age, educational qualifications, interests and marital status. There are 50 roles and 100 jobs featured in the game, which was specially adapted for a modern Ireland last year following a two-year pilot in randomly selected schools. A very broad range of employment is featured, all of it relevant to an Irish setting. Roles evolve as students confront real life issues, budgeting, mortgage/rent bills, unexpected events, moral and ethical quandaries as featured in ‘Out of the Blue’ topic 5 in the Be Real Game.
The Be Real Game is designed to work across the curriculum, adding relevance and skills to subjects. It encourages students to start to think about their career options and creates a simulated society in the classroom. A town/community map is displayed on the classroom wall to create a visible awareness of a real society/community.
The central focus of the Be Real Game is the High Five Principles. These are:
Change is Constant: A job for life no longer exists. Adaptability is a key skill.
Learning is Ongoing: We continue to learn throughout our life.
Focus on the Journey: Key element of Be Real Game. Travelling through life is like driving down a road with many alternative routes and sometimes road blocks.
Follow Your Heart: Motivation and perseverance are essential: never be afraid to pursue your goals.
Access Your Allies: The Journey of life is not taken alone: friends, family, teachers and organisations are there to help.
The Be Real Game has been offered to all interested schools in 2007 and over 270 schools are currently playing the game. Feedback from teachers, parents and pupils has been extremely positive to date. Students generally love the roles because they can express opinions and test situations in role play in a safe environment without people getting upset as everyone is literally acting. Parents have said that budgeting in particular has made their lives a lot easier as students now understand why they cannot buy them designer gear! Guidance Counsellors appreciate the fact that students enjoy coming to class and that they are completely involved in all aspects of the game, while at the same time absorbing very important lessons about life outside the protected world of the classroom.
Liz O’ Keeffe, Second Level Support Service
October 3rd, 2007 at 5:03 pm
An excellent article Liz. Are there courses available in this and how can I access the courses?
October 4th, 2007 at 9:36 am
think its a great resource, would also be interested in finding out about courses?
October 5th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Hello John and Orlaith,
The training took place in 8 venues nationwide in September. Guidance Counsellors applied last Spring either to SLSS or the Transition Year Administrator in Blackrock Education Centre. We will extend the Be Real Game Training to another 200 Guidance Counsellors next September. If you are interested please let the TY Administrator or myself know.
Liz O’ Keeffe
lizokeeffe@slss.ie
October 14th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
also interested in training for be real game. Can nothing be done before next september??
October 15th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Nothing else can be done before September as Guidance Counsellors applied for training last Spring or early summer.Please contact TY Administrator or myself and we will set up a register of applicants.
Liz O’ Keeffe
November 30th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
interested in training also.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Liz could you leave your contact details on teh comment page please
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Hi Teresa, you can contact me on lizokeeffe@slss.ie. Liz
May 21st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Hi Liz,
Is there a list available of schools in Cork area, where this has been used already, so that I may talk to someone about it.
Regards,
Nuala Ni Bhriain
Schull Community College