You make the decision
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Introduction
In this activity, students take on the role of the Treasurer and make decisions on how to spend taxpayers’ money. Through engaging in the interactive, they learn how different organisations and groups lobby the government for funding. They also learn that government funds are limited and, in order to keep the federal Budget balanced, additional spending will mean either an increase in taxes or a reduction in spending elsewhere. Students reconsider their decision using the PACED decision-making strategy.
Achievement standard
By the end of Year 10, students explain why and how governments manage economic performance to improve living standards. They give explanations for variations in economic performance and standards of living within and between economies. They analyse factors that influence major consumer and financial decisions and explain the short- and long-term effects of these decisions. They explain how businesses respond to changing economic conditions and improve productivity. Students evaluate the effect of organisational and workforce management on business performance.
When researching, students develop questions and formulate hypotheses to frame an investigation of an economic or business issue or event. They gather and analyse reliable data and information from different sources to identify trends, explain relationships and make predictions. Students generate alternative responses to an issue, taking into account multiple perspectives. They use cost-benefit analysis and appropriate criteria to propose and justify a course of action. They apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar, unfamiliar and complex hypothetical problems. Students develop and present evidence-based conclusions and reasoned arguments incorporating different points of view. They use appropriate texts, subject-specific language, conventions and concepts. They analyse the intended and unintended effects of economic and business decisions and the potential consequences of alternative actions.
Content descriptions
Economics and Business Knowledge and Understanding
The ways that governments manage economic performance to improve living standards (ACHEK052).
Economics and Business Skills
Analyse data and information in different formats to explain cause-and-effect relationships, make predictions and illustrate alternative perspectives (ACHES057).
Generate a range of viable options in response to an economic or business issue or event, use cost-benefit analysis and appropriate criteria to recommend and justify a course of action and predict the potential consequences of the proposed action (ACHES058).
Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar, new and hypothetical situations (ACHES059).
Teacher resources
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Decision-making strategy
Student learning resources
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You make the decision
You make the decision
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Suggested activity sequence
This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group.
- Explain to students that they will work in pairs to engage in an interactive in which they will collaboratively play the role of the federal Treasurer.
- Use a grouping strategy to organise students into pairs.
- Pairs of students follow the interactive instructions to play the You make the decision interactive.
- Pairs answer questions 1-5 of the interactive instructions.
- Display and explain the information on the visualiser. The visualiser provides a step-by-step guide to using the PACED grid as a tool for decision-making. Explain each step as you display the visualiser.
- Pairs complete questions 6 and 7 of the interactive instructions.
- Discuss:
- the decisions students made and whether their decision changed as a result of using a decision-making strategy
- the value of using a strategy for making decisions.
- Students write a statement explaining:
- why trade-offs (compensatory actions) are necessary in order to keep a balanced budget and
- the benefits of a balanced or surplus budget.