Economics and Business · Term 3

Consumers: Choices and Influences

Students will explore the factors that influence consumer choices, including price, advertising, and personal preferences.

About This Topic

The world of work is changing rapidly, and today's students need to understand the skills and mindsets required for the future. This topic explores the different types of work, from traditional full-time jobs to the 'gig economy' and entrepreneurship. Students investigate how technology and automation are reshaping the Australian workplace and why 'soft skills' like creativity and problem-solving are becoming more valuable.

We also look at the rights and responsibilities of both employees and employers. This connects to the curriculum's focus on work and work futures. This topic comes alive when students can engage in 'Career Speed Dating' or use collaborative investigations to 'invent' a job that doesn't exist yet but might be needed in 20 years.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: Jobs of the Future

Groups are given a 'Future Trend' (e.g., 'Space Tourism', 'Robot Pets', 'Vertical Farming'). They must 'invent' a job title, a list of daily tasks, and the skills needed for that role, presenting their 'Future Career' to the class.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Think-Pair-Share: Employee vs. Entrepreneur

Students discuss: 'Would you rather have a steady job with a boss, or start your own business where you are in charge but have more risk?'. They share the 'pros and cons' of each path with a partner.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Role Play: The Job Interview

Students pair up as 'Employer' and 'Applicant'. The Employer must ask about 'Transferable Skills' (e.g., 'Tell me about a time you solved a problem'), helping students practice identifying their own strengths beyond just 'knowing facts'.

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

You only need to learn one skill for one job for your whole life.

What to Teach Instead

Most people will have multiple careers. Peer discussion about 'Lifelong Learning' helps students see that 'learning how to learn' is the most important skill of all.

Common Misconception

Robots will take *all* the jobs.

What to Teach Instead

Technology usually changes jobs rather than just removing them. Researching 'Human-only skills' (like empathy and complex ethics) helps students feel more confident about their future value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 'transferable skills'?

These are skills you can use in many different jobs, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. In a changing economy, these are often more important than specific technical knowledge.

What is an entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is someone who starts and runs their own business, taking on financial risks in the hope of making a profit. They are often 'innovators' who find new ways to solve problems for consumers.

How can active learning help students prepare for work?

By 'inventing' future jobs or practicing interviews, students develop the 'soft skills' that the modern workplace demands. It moves the conversation from 'what do you want to be?' to 'what problems do you want to solve?', which is a much more useful way to think about a career.

How is technology changing work in Australia?

Technology is automating repetitive tasks, allowing more people to work remotely, and creating new industries like app development and renewable energy. It also means we need to keep updating our skills throughout our lives.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU