Active learning ideas
The Future of Work and the Economy prepares students for a rapidly changing professional landscape. This topic explores emerging trends such as the 'gig economy,' remote working, and the increasing role of automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace. For 3rd Year students, this is highly relevant as they begin to think about their future career paths and the skills they will need to thrive in the 21st century.
Activity 01
Divide the class to debate: 'Automation will create more jobs than it destroys.' Students must research different industries (e.g., manufacturing vs. healthcare) to find evidence for their arguments.
How is technology changing the workplace?
Activity 02
One student acts as a freelance graphic designer and another as a traditional office employee. They discuss their typical day, focusing on benefits like flexibility versus challenges like lack of sick pay or pension.
What are the pros and cons of the gig economy?
Activity 03
Groups research 'future-proof' skills (e.g., emotional intelligence, coding, or critical thinking). They create a 'Skills Passport' for a student graduating in ten years, explaining why each skill will be valuable.
What skills will be needed in the future economy?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Students often believe that AI will replace all human jobs.
Explain that while some tasks will be automated, AI is more likely to change jobs rather than eliminate them entirely. A 'Human vs. Machine' sorting activity can help students identify tasks that require human empathy and creativity.
There is a belief that the 'Gig Economy' is only for low-skilled work.
Clarify that many high-skilled professionals, like consultants and software developers, also work in the gig economy. Using a 'freelance marketplace' simulation can show the variety of roles available in this sector.
Methods used in this brief