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Carpenter's Cars' (Tutor Version)

The Learning Objectives for both Business Education and Information Technology

Business Studies must relate to the real world of business and the community at large. This cannot be achieved by desk research alone. The dynamics of the business world are best appreciated by visits to, and contact with, local and national organisations. However, this cannot be the basis for every lesson so it is also possible to effectively relate subjects to a business situation via the use of case studies - hence the creation of 'Carpenter's Cars'.

The Carpenter's Cars activity is based around SEG's syllabus of Business Studies with an Information Technology module though is quite suitable for other syllabuses .

The general objectives of the Case Study are to enable pupils to:

1. demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the specified subject content;
2. apply the specified terms, concepts, theories and methods effectively to address problems and issues;
3. select, organise, interpret and use the information available to them;
4. evaluate evidence, make reasoned judgements and present conclusions accurately and appropriately.

The Case Study covers, (or when coverage is not direct, it acts as a tool for access to), the following subject content as stated in the SEG Business Studies syllabus.

Business Behaviour

1. Demonstrate critical understanding of the importance of financial and budgetary control, for example, stock control, cash flow forecasting.
2. Interpret in an elementary way the final accounts for a business, for example, the analysis of a profit and loss account.
3. Compare costs with revenue to determine profit and distinguish between gross and net profit.

The above is achieved via Activity Worksheet Two in the pack - Profit and Loss Account.

People and Business

1. demonstrate understanding of the various methods of communication and suitable methods for internal and external situations;
2. evaluate the ways in which developments in modern technology have affected the operation of business.

Number 1 will be achieved via Activity Three - Letterhead and Number 2 via the extension tasks in Activity One - Database.

Information Technology

Databases

• understand how and why databases may be established and used in a business context;
• set up an appropriate database for a particular purpose;
• interrogate a database to obtain selected information.

The above will be achieved via Activity Worksheet 1 - Database.

Spreadsheets

• understand how and why spreadsheets may be used in a business context;
• set up an appropriate spreadsheet for a particular purpose;
• edit data;
• insert correct formula.

The above will be achieved via Activity Two - Profit and Loss Account.

Software Packages

• select the most appropriate software for a particular purpose;
• load the program.

The above will be achieved via all three Activity Worksheets in the pack.

National Curriculum Skills

Carpenter's Cars Case Study also covers parts of the National Curriculum Key Stage 4 Programme of Study.

By completing the unit of work pupils are given the opportunity to:

• develop further as autonomous users of IT, broadening and consolidating their knowledge, skills and understanding;
• select IT tools and information sources that are appropriate to the tasks;
• acquire further understanding of features of systems;
• apply and develop their IT skills in order to enhance their work.

The case study will also cover aspects of Communication and Handling by enabling pupils to:

• use IT to handle and communicate information in a variety of contexts;
• use IT to enhance their own learning and the quality of their work;
• analyse the requirements of a specific task, taking into account the information required and the purpose for which it is needed, and decide how the information will be presented and interpreted.

Carpenter's Cars Case Study also enables students to acquire the following skills as identified in the NCVQ KEY SKILLS:

1 - Information Technology

Prepare Information:

Students selects information appropriate to the task and enters it into software so that it is easy to edit.

Process Information:

The student finds the information required for the task and edits and reorganises is as appropriate. The student uses numerical information to make calculations. This would involve the use of databases and spreadsheets for example.

Present Information:

The student considers alternative ways of presenting and displaying information and selects the way that best meets requirements.

Evaluate the Use of Information Technology:

The student explains the reasons for the use of information technology and compares its use with other methods.

2 - Communication

Produce Written Material:

• The student must include information that is accurate and relevant to the subject.
• Check that text is legible and the meaning is clear, correcting if necessary.
• Follow appropriate conventions.
• Present information in a format that suits the audience and purpose.
• Use structure and style to emphasise meaning.

How the Learning Package Will be Used

The Carpenter's Cars case study was devised as a unit of work to incorporate in to a GCSE Business Studies class. The exercise can be introduced as part of the coverage of the Business Behaviour unit. The case study alone does not attempt to cover all aspects of this unit, but should be used as a tool towards incorporating other things. For example, by the student's completing Activity Worksheet Two on Profit and Loss account, it will enable the teacher to easily bring together topics such as trading accounts, balance sheets, and comparisons of final accounts.

Before giving the students this case study to complete, all relevant theory should be covered in prior lessons. The students should be left largely to carry out the tasks independently. The teacher is of course advised to act as facilitator and guide throughout.

Time Scale of the Learning Package

The whole case study package may last for about five one hour lessons.

Activity Worksheet 1 - two lessons

Activity Worksheet 2 - two lessons

Activity Worksheet 3 - one lesson

However, able students may cover it in four whilst the less able, may take up to six. This should be considered when preparing work to follow the completion of Carpenter's Cars case study - perhaps extension tasks could be devised to challenge more able students upon completion of the package.

Resource Implications

Ideally, each student should have a computer to work on independently. However, this is not always possible. The case study does not really lend itself to pairs or groups working at the computer, so it may be worth considering working to a rota. This would mean that some students would have to be provided with other work to do whilst remaining students work on the computer to complete the case study.