Module 8

Module 8: Company workplace challenge

A workplace challenge is a career preparation activity where students, work individually or in small groups (3-5 students per team) to solve a real-world problem or challenge issued or faced by an employer. The challenge creates a “Think Tank” around authentic problems and is an opportunity for employers to gain views from a different audience and perspective. In some cases, the challenge may lead to tangible solutions that can be further developed.

Location

School/ College/ Workplace/ Home

Suggested duration

  • Approximately 30 minutes for employers to set challenge.

    Sufficient time allocated for students to develop project plan, conduct research, strategise solutions and develop presentation material. Minimum of 4 hours suggested for independent student working.

Employer outcomes

  • Gain a different perspective to problems and gather tangible contributions to solutions
  • Insight into future workforce, who are now able to effectively work in teams, communicate and solve problems
  • Opportunity to develop employees through delegation of responsibility to oversee challenge with students

Student outcomes

  • Engage in an authentic problem-based challenge
  • Develop and demonstrate skills to an employer

Educator outcomes

  • Access to real work-based problems for students to work on with supporting resources and employer knowledge base
  • Opportunity to capture case study and examples of students developing and displaying transferable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, effective project management and pitching and presenting

Employer resources

  • Challenge developed and if required a pre-recorded video setting the challenge or a written form of challenge
  • Supporting resources as appropriate to enable students to work on challenge
  • Agreed time for Q&A at midpoint and feedback at end of experience

Student resources

  • Access to the challenge
  • Access to supporting resources
  • May require IT / internet access depending on the challenge
  • Agreed time for Q&A at midpoint and feedback at end of experience

Educator resources

  • Access to the challenge
  • Access to supporting resources
  • Ability to group students into working groups where possible
  • Agreed time for Q&A at midpoint and feedback at end of experience

Resources

Facilitator's Guide

Follow this guide to facilitate the delivery of this module with young people.

Download the guide

Student Resource Pack

Downloadable or printable activities and supporting module resources.

Download the pack