Game-based learning and career orientation: developing skills of the future

What are the objectives of the project?

“Future Time Traveller is a project, initiated and coordinated by the Business Foundation for Education. It aims to transform career guidance of generation Z through introducing an innovative, game-based approach for preparing the next generation for the jobs of the future.

The specific objectives of the project are to:

• Foster innovative thinking and a future-oriented mindset of young people through an innovative game in a 3D virtual learning environment. The game is designed to help young people prepare better for their future jobs. Additionally, the partners announced a “Jobs of the Future” contest, in which young people will be able to demonstrate their creativity, critical thinking and a forward-looking mindset.
• Enhance the innovative capacity of career guidance practitioners and experts through scenario development, creativity workshops, European competition for innovative career guidance services, and an E-book of best practices in innovative game-based career guidance services.
• Give impetus to innovation and future-oriented career guidance policies through a comprehensive detailed policy report and impact assessment of the undertaken approach. The report will provide decision-makers with evidence of how innovative technologies, teaching methods and labour market intelligence contribute to new generation career guidance.”

The game takes players to the year 2050 to learn what will happen to the world of work and become an ambassador of the future

How does the project support life skills development?

“In the first half of the project, the Future partners conducted a comprehensive desktop and field research, which helped identify the main trends, challenges, and good practices in career guidance. The field survey involved 159 young people (15-20-year-olds), 39 career guidance practitioners and 16 experts in the 7 partner countries – Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal and the UK. Through the survey, we learned that it is important for young people to be informed about the jobs of the future and the changes in the world of work, however, half of the respondents currently don’t learn about them at school or informally. The respondents also evaluated knowledge of labour market trends, self-awareness, flexibility and openness to change as the most important career skills for the future in addition to creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship spirit. At the same time, the survey revealed that career guidance practitioners need to prepare better for the future of jobs. In particular, knowledge of the labour market trends and resources, of young people’ needs, and the ability to create new tools, designed for the new digital generation need to be improved. Most respondents cannot identify specific web source of information and admit that “there is a lack of such a one-stop-platform, which adequately provides information on how to work with young people on this topic.

Based on these findings, the partnership elaborated a future-looking career guidance agenda, developed a game-based learning scenario and launched a 3D virtual world platform, which aims to help young people prepare better to their future jobs.”

Various missions and challenges of the game create intuitive and immersive learning experiences.

What are the outcomes of the project?

“The main product of the project is the Future Time Traveller career game, which innovatively combines new digital technologies (3D virtual learning environments) with educational game methodologies (game-based learning) to create a unique simulation of a future world.

The career game is based around challenging missions, in which young people explore the future world, understand the trends that shape the future labour market, the emerging jobs and the skills they will require. It will foster their decision-making and future-oriented career mindset. The serious game scenarios incorporate elements of Escape Rooms, Web Quests, Treasure Hunting, strategy and adventure games which have the potential for facilitating the career decision-making process and help users make use of the labour market intelligence. The visual stimulation, user-centric approach foster engagement and create a truly unique learning experience. The virtual reality environment is designed around a story, which engages users in a learning journey, including different virtual spaces.”

The learning experience helps young people develop a wide range of career management competencies for the 21-st century.

Text: Aizhana KhasanovaPhotos: Project partners