UNP-0032, Revised May 2005. Adapted for use by Urban Affairs & New Nontraditional Programs Unit, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, with permission from the developers, University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, by Rosalie M. Lane, Extension Specialist, Alabama A&M University

Welcome to the Real World

Welcome to the Real World (WTTRW) is a proactive and interactive curriculum designed to heighten the user's awareness of adult decision-making. It provokes the user to think independently about career selections, personal financial matters, and other life processes.

WTTRW offers a creative evaluation tool for instructors. It can be used to keep track of student needs and as an instrument to deliver nontraditional training intervention.

The WTTRW curriculum is beneficial to students and other users. It is recommended for use in:

• middle schools (mature audience) and high schools
• community agencies providing adult life-skills programs

WTTRW is different from other curriculums. It gives each participant an opportunity to role-play as an independent 25-year-old adult. Each participant makes decisions on how to successfully proceed through these activities:

• Selecting careers
• Receiving a pay check
• Filing tax return
• Making banking decisions
• Finding a home
• Selecting transportation
• Selecting insurance
• Selecting utilities, TV/Cable
• Shopping for groceries
• Shopping for clothing
• Playing the Game of Chance

Volunteers are needed to present each WTTRW activity. Each volunteer is counseled on how to perform as a consultant in one of the identified areas.

How will you benefit in using the Welcome to the Real World curriculum? WTTRW is:

• User friendly
• User driven
• Thought-provoking
• Creatively stimulating
• Exciting
• Rewarding

Developed by The University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service.

For more information contact:

Sylvia Oakes & Tyrone Smith
County Extension Agents
Madison County
(256) 532-1578

Lelia Wissert
County Extension Agent
Lauderdale County
(256) 460-5860

Rosalie M. Lane
Extension Specialist
Alabama A&M University
(256) 372-4982

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.