Economics · Grade 10

Active learning ideas

The Future of Work and Automation

Active learning works for this topic because students need to connect abstract economic concepts to real-world scenarios they will face. Hands-on activities let them explore job transformation through role-play, data analysis, and policy discussions, which builds both critical thinking and empathy for diverse perspectives in the future workforce.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• Ontario Curriculum, Canadian and World Studies (2018): CIE3M, Strand E. Labour and the Economy, Analyse the impact of various factors, including technological change, on the labour market
• Ontario Curriculum, Canadian and World Studies (2018): CIE3M, Strand E. Labour and the Economy, Analyse current trends and issues in the Canadian labour market
• Ontario Curriculum, Canadian and World Studies (2018): CIA4U, Strand D. Economic Stability, Growth, and Global Interdependence, Analyse various factors that promote or hinder economic growth, including technological progress

• 35–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Jigsaw
• 50 min · Small Groups

Jigsaw: Automation Across Industries

Assign small groups to research one industry (manufacturing, healthcare, retail, transportation) and its automation impacts using provided articles. Experts then jigsaw into mixed groups to share findings and predict job shifts. Groups create a shared infographic summarizing trends.

Analyze how automation is transforming various industries and job roles.

Facilitation Tip

During the Jigsaw, assign each expert group a clear role (e.g., researcher, presenter) to ensure accountability and equal participation.

What to look for

Pose this question to small groups: 'Imagine you are advising the Ontario government. What are the top two policy recommendations you would make to prepare the province's workforce for increased automation in the next 10 years? Justify your choices.'

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Activity 02

• World Café
• 45 min · Pairs

Policy Debate Carousel

Pairs prepare arguments for or against policies like universal basic income or skills retraining grants. Rotate stations to debate with other pairs, using evidence cards on costs and benefits. Conclude with whole-class vote and reflection.

Predict the skills that will be most valuable in future labor markets.

Facilitation Tip

For the Policy Debate Carousel, set a strict time limit per station to keep discussions focused and prevent groupthink.

What to look for

Provide students with a short news article about a specific industry impacted by automation (e.g., trucking, retail). Ask them to identify: 1. One job role likely to decrease, 2. One job role likely to increase, and 3. One new skill needed for the increasing role.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• World Café
• 35 min · Individual

Skills Matching Simulation

Individually, students list their skills and match them to current versus future job ads from sites like Indeed.ca. In pairs, they brainstorm development strategies and present top three adaptable skills to the class.

Evaluate policy responses to the challenges and opportunities presented by automation.

Facilitation Tip

In the Skills Matching Simulation, provide role cards with both current and emerging skills to challenge students' assumptions about required competencies.

What to look for

On an index card, have students write: 1. One specific industry in Canada being transformed by automation, and 2. One skill they believe will be crucial for their own future career success and why.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• World Café
• 40 min · Small Groups

Data Trends Graphing

Small groups plot Statistics Canada data on automation-related unemployment by sector over 10 years. They identify patterns, hypothesize causes, and propose one policy response, sharing via gallery walk.

Analyze how automation is transforming various industries and job roles.

What to look for

Pose this question to small groups: 'Imagine you are advising the Ontario government. What are the top two policy recommendations you would make to prepare the province's workforce for increased automation in the next 10 years? Justify your choices.'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Experienced teachers approach this topic by grounding discussions in concrete examples rather than abstract theory. They avoid overgeneralizing about automation's impact and instead use sector-specific cases to illustrate nuanced changes. Research suggests students retain more when they analyze local contexts, so Ontario-based examples work best for engagement and relevance.

Successful learning looks like students articulating how automation reshapes jobs, not just listing affected industries. They should demonstrate evidence-based reasoning in debates, simulations, and data graphs, and transfer their understanding to policy advice for Ontario's economy.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Jigsaw activity, watch for students assuming automation eliminates jobs entirely.

  During the Jigsaw, have groups use the timeline template to trace how the Industrial Revolution created new jobs alongside losses, requiring them to find similar patterns in their assigned industries.

• During the Skills Matching Simulation, listen for students believing only low-skill workers are at risk.

  During the Skills Matching Simulation, include case studies from professional fields like accounting and radiology, and ask students to justify why these roles are vulnerable to AI in their role cards.

• During the Policy Debate Carousel, note if students assign job security solely to individual effort.

  During the Policy Debate Carousel, provide policy scenario cards (e.g., "universal basic income," "retraining subsidies") to push students to consider systemic solutions during their arguments.

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Methods used in this brief

• Jigsaw
• World Café