Digital Technologies Impact

Overview

This 40-minute lesson is designed for second-year students studying Business Studies, guided by the IE Curriculum (Curriculum Framework for Ireland, Junior Cycle Business Studies). The lesson focuses on the impact of digital technologies within organisations, including the need for digital technology, the types of technologies used, and analysing their benefits, especially in recruiting and managing staff.

Curriculum Alignment

• Strand: Understanding Business (Junior Cycle Business Studies)
• Learning Outcomes:
  • B1: Examine how businesses use technology to improve processes and communication.
  • B2: Identify and describe digital tools used in business.
  • B3: Analyse the role of digital technologies in HR functions such as recruitment and management.
• Key Skills Addressed:
  • Information Processing
  • Managing Myself
  • Being Creative
  • Working with Others

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Learning Intentions

1. Summarise why digital technology is essential within organisations.
2. Identify various types of digital technologies used by businesses.
3. Analyse the benefits and rewards of using digital technology in recruiting and managing staff.

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Success Criteria

• Students can explain why digital technology is vital for modern businesses.
• Students can list at least four types of digital technologies employed in business settings.
• Students evaluate how digital technologies enhance recruitment and staff management using relevant examples.

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Resources Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• Projector and laptop for presentation
• Microphones (optional, for group presentations)
• Handouts summarising key digital technologies used in business
• Role-play cards/scenarios for recruitment simulation
• Timer or stopwatch

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Lesson Structure and Activities

1. Introduction & Starter (5 minutes)

• Activity: Quick Think-Pair-Share
  • Prompt: "Why do you think businesses need digital technology today?"
  • Students think individually for 1 minute, then discuss with a partner.
  • Select 2–3 pairs to share ideas aloud.
• Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and engage students in the topic.
• Display the Learning Intentions and briefly link to the IE Curriculum learning outcomes (B1, B2).

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2. Direct Teaching: Summary of Digital Technology Need (8 minutes)

• Teacher Presentation (5 minutes): Use slides to explain:
  • Efficiency improvements
  • Communication enhancements
  • Data management and decision-making
  • Competitive advantage and innovation
• Showcase real-world examples of Irish companies using digital technologies.
• Class Discussion (3 minutes): Ask students for examples of digital tech they use outside school.

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3. Group Work: Identifying Technologies (10 minutes)

• Activity: Using supplied handouts, in groups of 3, students list types of digital technologies businesses use.
  • Categories: Communication, Marketing, Operations, HR.
  • Examples: Email systems, CRM software, cloud storage, digital payroll, e-recruitment platforms.
• Each group creates a quick poster listing the technologies under the categories.
• Teacher circulates, prompting deeper thinking about less obvious technologies (eg. AI in customer service).

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4. Application & Analysis: Role Play on Recruiting and Staff Management (12 minutes)

• Setup: Each group receives a simple role-play scenario involving recruitment or staff management (e.g., screening CVs online, using video interviews, monitoring staff performance digitally).
• Task: Identify and discuss:
  • The digital tools used in their scenario.
  • The benefits and rewards of these digital tools for both employer and employee.
• Groups briefly present (2 mins each) their scenario and findings.
• During presentations, teacher encourages analytical thinking by asking probing questions:
  • How does this technology improve fairness and efficiency?
  • Are there challenges with this approach?

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5. Plenary & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Class Discussion: Reflect on:
  • What digital technology is most beneficial to businesses?
  • How might future technology further change recruiting and managing?
• Use an exit-ticket style question written on board:
  • "Which digital technology do you think will be the most important for business jobs in 10 years and why?"
• Students write brief responses individually.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Observation during group work assessing participation and understanding.
• Quality of group posters and role-play presentations assessed against success criteria.
• Exit-ticket responses used to gauge individual understanding and encourage reflection.
• Provide verbal feedback focusing on use of business terms and ability to analyse rather than just describe.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Pair stronger students with those needing more support for peer learning.
• Provide differentiated roles in group work to allow all abilities to contribute (e.g., scribe, presenter, researcher).
• Use visual supports and modelled language frames to aid vocabulary development.
• Allow extra time or alternative formats (oral instead of written) for exit tickets if needed.

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Extension Ideas (if time allows)

• Debate: "Are digital recruitment tools better than face-to-face interviews?"
• Research homework: Find a small Irish business using digital technologies and prepare a 3-minute presentation on their approach.

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This highly interactive and curriculum-aligned lesson leverages group collaboration, real-world tools and scenarios, and reflective practice, helping students understand and analyse the impact of digital technologies in business while developing key skills outlined in the IE Junior Cycle Business Studies framework.