Lesson Plan
Future of Work Exploration Plan
Students will analyze current trends impacting the job market and creatively envision potential future careers, understanding the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning.
This lesson helps students understand that the world of work is constantly changing, preparing them to think critically about their own future paths and embrace new opportunities.
Audience
7th Grade Class
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, slide presentation, and a creative activity.
Materials
Smartboard or Projector, Careers of Tomorrow: A Glimpse into the Future Slide Deck, Invent a Future Job Activity, and Robots, AI, and Our Jobs Discussion Guide
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Careers of Tomorrow: A Glimpse into the Future Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the Invent a Future Job Activity worksheet (one per student).
- Review the Robots, AI, and Our Jobs Discussion Guide to prepare for facilitating the conversation.
- Ensure projector/smartboard is set up and working.
Step 1
Introduction: The Future Is Now (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What jobs do you think will exist when you're an adult that don't exist today?" Allow for a few brief responses.
- Introduce the lesson objectives using Careers of Tomorrow: A Glimpse into the Future Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
Step 2
Exploring Trends: Technology & Society (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Present slides 3-7 from the Careers of Tomorrow: A Glimpse into the Future Slide Deck, focusing on key trends like AI, automation, climate change, and evolving societal needs.
- Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the Robots, AI, and Our Jobs Discussion Guide to encourage student thinking about how these trends might impact existing jobs and create new ones.
Step 3
Invent a Future Job (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Distribute the Invent a Future Job Activity worksheet.
- Explain the activity: Students will invent a new job that addresses a future need or utilizes emerging technology.
- Allow students to work individually or in pairs to complete the activity.
- Circulate the room to provide support and answer questions.
Step 4
Share & Reflect (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Ask a few students to share their invented jobs with the class.
- Conclude with a brief reflection: "What's one thing you learned today about the future of work?" (Slide 8).
- Encourage students to think about skills they might need to develop for a changing job market.
Slide Deck
What Jobs Will Exist in 20 Years?
Get ready to imagine the future!
Welcome students and introduce the intriguing question for today's lesson. Encourage initial thoughts but save deep discussion for later.
Our Journey to the Future
Objective: To explore how technology and societal changes are shaping the jobs of tomorrow and brainstorm new career possibilities.
Why it matters: Understanding future trends helps you prepare for a dynamic world of work!
Clearly state the lesson's objectives. Explain what students will learn and why it's important for their future.
Trend 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
What is AI?
- Computers that can learn and solve problems.
How might AI change jobs?
- Some tasks become automated.
- New jobs created to design, manage, and work with AI.
Introduce Artificial Intelligence and ask students what they know about it. Discuss how AI is already impacting daily life.
Trend 2: Automation & Robotics
Robots aren't just in movies anymore!
- Machines doing repetitive tasks.
- From factories to customer service.
Impact on careers:
- Efficiency in production.
- Need for people to build, maintain, and innovate robots.
Discuss automation beyond AI, such as robots in manufacturing. Talk about the types of jobs that might be most affected.
Trend 3: Climate Change & Sustainability
Our planet needs heroes!
- Growing focus on environmental protection.
- Renewable energy, waste reduction, conservation.
Future Green Jobs:
- Solar panel installers.
- Environmental engineers.
- Sustainability consultants.
Explain climate change and its various impacts. Brainstorm with students how this global challenge might lead to new jobs.
Trend 4: Evolving Societal Needs
What do people need and want?
- Aging populations.
- New ways of learning.
- Demand for personalized services.
Examples of growing fields:
- Healthcare innovators.
- Personal wellness coaches.
- Online education specialists.
Talk about how society's needs are constantly changing (e.g., healthcare, education, entertainment). Ask students what new needs they see emerging.
The Big Picture: Change is Constant!
- Technology will keep advancing.
- Our planet needs solutions.
- Human needs will evolve.
This means new jobs will emerge that we can't even imagine today!
Summarize the key trends and emphasize that while some jobs disappear, many new and exciting ones emerge.
Reflect & Imagine
What's one new skill you think will be important for future jobs?
How can you start preparing for the jobs of tomorrow, today?
Pose a reflective question to help students summarize their learning and connect it to their own future. Encourage sharing.
Activity
Invent a Future Job: What's Your Vision?
Think about the trends we discussed: Artificial Intelligence, automation, climate change, and changing societal needs. Now, it's your turn to be a visionary!
Your task is to invent a completely new job that you believe will exist (and be important!) in 20 years. Get creative and think outside the box!
Your Future Job:
-
Job Title:
A creative, descriptive name for your new job. -
What does this job do?
Describe the main responsibilities and tasks of this job. What does a typical day look like? -
Why is this job needed in the future?
Explain which future trend (e.g., AI, climate change, societal needs) creates the demand for this job. What problem does it solve or what new need does it fulfill? -
What skills and education would someone need for this job?
Think about both academic skills (like science, math, coding) and life skills (like problem-solving, creativity, communication, adaptability). -
Bonus: Draw a picture of someone doing this job or an emblem for the job!
Discussion
Robots, AI, and Our Jobs: A Discussion Guide
This guide provides prompts to facilitate a classroom discussion about the impact of technology (robots and AI) on the job market, helping students think critically about the future of work.
Introduction Prompts:
- When you hear the words "robots" and "AI" (Artificial Intelligence), what comes to mind first? Good or bad? Why?
- Can you think of any jobs today that are already done by robots or AI?
Exploring the Impact (after slides on AI/Automation):
- How might AI make some jobs easier or more efficient?
- Follow-up: Can you think of a specific example in a job you know?
- Do you think some jobs might disappear because of AI and robots? If so, which ones and why?
- Follow-up: How do you feel about that? Is it a good or bad thing?
- What kind of new jobs do you think might be created because of AI and robots?
- Hint: Think about jobs that involve designing, managing, fixing, or teaching people how to use these technologies.
- How is a human brain different from a computer or robot?
- Follow-up: What skills do humans have that robots and AI don't (at least not yet)?
Preparing for the Future:
- If you know that some jobs might change, how can you start preparing for the future now?
- What skills do you think will be most important for jobs that require working with AI and robots, instead of being replaced by them?
- Examples: Creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, empathy.
- What are some ways we can make sure that new technology helps everyone, not just a few people?
Wrap-up Prompt:
- After this discussion, what's one big question you still have about the future of jobs and technology?