Real Lives makes the student responsible for the simulated characters outcome in life. Every choice has to be made by the student including what school to attend, what job to hold and what person to become friends with. It will give an upper class student a view of what it would life would be like in a poverty stricken country and the choices to make based only on survival. The educational outcome of the program is to allow students to learn about different cultures, political systems, geography, economics and personal real-life choices. The character portrayels are endless including the life of a Japanese businessman, a tribal leader in a rainforest, a female doctor in Rome or a child growing up in Afganistan. Real Lives will make learning fun and interactives as well as incorporate technology skills to students while they are learning about societies outside their own.
I believe that this technology can provide a link for children to appreciate the lifestyles of other countries that many may never be able to experience. The ability to learn about other societies and cultures from books and photographs is one way of learning, but to be part of the decision making experience is an interactive way that children will remeber forever.
To learn more about the Real Lives 2010 program and design the life of another individual from your laptop go to http://www.educationalsimulations.com/.
Image used with permission from Pics4learning.com.
