Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Work and Technology

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial to establish a solid foundation of understanding about how technology has transformed the world of work. By focusing on the main objectives, students will be able to connect theoretical concepts with practical examples, thus preparing for a deeper and more critical analysis during classroom activities.

Main Objectives:

1. Understand the impact of technological development on the creation of new forms of work, focusing on app-based jobs.

2. Identify and recognize concrete examples of new forms of work arising from technological advancement.

Side Objectives:

1. Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing how technology affects different work sectors.
2. Encourage research capacity and curiosity about technology's impact on society.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students and connect their prior knowledge with the content that will be explored in class. The problem situations stimulate critical thinking, allowing students to apply what they have learned in a practical and contextualized manner. The contextualization with real examples helps establish the relevance of the theme, motivating students to participate actively in the proposed discussions and activities.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you have a friend who works as a delivery person for an app company. He is paid per delivery, and sometimes, the amount he receives varies. What could be the reason for this variation?

2. Think of a situation where someone starts a business through a service app, such as offering private lessons. What benefits and challenges might this person encounter by using technology to manage their business?

Contextualization

Technology is transforming not only how we communicate but also how we work. Nowadays, many people find job and entrepreneurship opportunities through apps that connect service providers to clients. For example, Uber and iFood have revolutionized the transportation and food sectors, allowing people to use their own resources (such as cars or culinary skills) to earn extra income or even live exclusively from these activities. This contextualization helps students perceive the relevance of the topic in real life and understand that the study of geography is not limited to maps and coordinates but also encompasses human interaction with the environment and technology.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is designed to allow students to practically and creatively apply the knowledge gained about the impact of technology on work. By working in groups, they develop collaboration and communication skills that are essential for understanding a complex theme like new forms of work. Additionally, the activities are designed to stimulate critical thinking and innovation, preparing students for an increasingly digital and dynamic world.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Tech Detectives: Investigating Work Apps

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Analyze and understand the work dynamics generated by apps in the local economy.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will take on the role of detectives investigating the use of work apps in their community. They should choose an app (like Uber, iFood, Rappi, etc.) and investigate how it functions, who the main users are, and the advantages and challenges faced by those who work through it. The goal is to create a mind map or presentation explaining the app's impact on the local economy.

- Instructions:

• Choose a digital work app.

• Research how the app works, who the main users are, and what the advantages and challenges of this type of work are.

• Create a mind map or presentation to illustrate your findings.

• Prepare a brief exhibition to share your conclusions with the class.

Activity 2 - Digital City Builders

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop innovation and entrepreneurship skills by creating a new work app concept.

- Description: Students, organized in groups, will take on the role of entrepreneurs wishing to create a new work app for their city. They must think of a local need that could be addressed by an app and develop the main features and usage strategies. The final result will be the presentation of a prototype of the app, explaining how it would benefit the community and how workers would be compensated.

- Instructions:

• Identify a need in your community that could be addressed by a work app.

• Develop the main functionalities of the app, considering ease of use for workers.

• Draft a monetization strategy that is fair for all involved.

• Create a prototype of the app and prepare a presentation for the class.

Activity 3 - The App Show: Creative Presentation

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Demonstrate in a creative and engaging way the functioning and impact of work apps.

- Description: In this activity, students will use their creativity to turn the learning about work apps into a talent show. Each group will be responsible for representing, in a playful manner, how a specific app works. Using dramatization, music, and visual arts, they should showcase the work process, challenges, and innovations that the app has brought.

- Instructions:

• Choose a digital work app to represent.

• Create a small play, a dance number, or a slideshow that illustrates how the app works.

• Prepare costumes, sets, and other elements that help in the representation.

• Perform the presentation for the class.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning, allowing students to articulate the knowledge acquired and share insights with their peers. The group discussion helps to develop communication and argumentation skills while offering an opportunity for critical reflection on the implications of using technology in work. This collective feedback also serves to assess students' understanding and identify areas that may require further exploration in future classes.

Group Discussion

After completing the activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start the conversation with a brief introduction, highlighting the importance of sharing the discoveries and lessons learned during the activities. Encourage each group to present a summary of what they explored and what their main conclusions were. Use the following questions to guide the discussion and ensure that all important aspects are covered:

Key Questions

1. What were the biggest surprises or challenges you encountered while investigating or developing a work app?

2. How do you think technology can impact the future of work in your community?

3. Is there any way to improve or innovate the work apps you investigated or created?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to reinforce and consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lesson, ensuring that students have grasped the main concepts and know how to apply them in practical and theoretical contexts. This recapitulation helps ensure that students can carry their learning beyond the classroom, applying it in real situations and being prepared for the challenges of the future job market.

Summary

To conclude, let's recap the main points discussed about the impact of technology on work. We saw how apps like Uber and iFood have transformed sectors such as transportation and food, providing new job and entrepreneurship opportunities. Additionally, we explored how these apps operate, the challenges faced by their workers, and the innovations they brought.

Theory Connection

During the class, we connected theory with practice through activities such as 'Tech Detectives', where students investigated and mapped the use of work apps in their community, and 'Digital City Builders', which challenged them to create prototypes of new apps. These activities allowed students to apply theoretical concepts in practical situations, solidifying their understanding of the topic.

Closing

The importance of understanding these technological changes in work extends beyond the classroom, directly impacting students' futures. Understanding new forms of employment and entrepreneurship prepares them for an increasingly digital and innovative world, where adaptation and creativity are essential for professional success.