Computers and the workplaceYEAR 8 ICT

Learning outcomes

• To know the changes in ICT that have affected people’s jobs.

• To understand the idea of teleworking and hot-desking

• To explain the advantages and disadvantages of computers in the workplace

Computers and the workplaceStarter: For each of the following people, write down which type of technology they use at work and how this makes their jobs easier.

E.g. A product designer will use 3D modelling software to see what the finished product will look like. This means they don’t have to create a physical model and can make changes to it if needed.

•A fashion photographer

•A supermarket delivery driver

Share and discuss these with the class. Sometimes ICT can make a job so easy that you don’t need an actual person to do the job any more!!!

ICT has replaced some jobs but created others

• Over the last 30 years, ICT has changed the world of work in a big way. Some industries have stopped existing, some have had to change to take on board new technology and some brand new industries have also developed.

• We will be looking at some examples of how ICT has brought about changes in a selection of jobs.

• We will also look at some of the benefits and some of the negative aspects of ICT and work

Printing Industry• Daily newspapers used to be printed on this old fashioned printing press.

• Printing used to be a very manual, skilled job with a master printer taking years to learn his craft.

• Each word had to be created by 'type setting' by hand.

• This meant picking each individual letter and creating sentences (backwards).

Printing Industry

• This is a modern day printing press.

• Nowadays, newspapers are written by journalists who use computer, laptop or tablet devices.

• The digital layout is then transferred to the printer and newspapers are printed very quickly in their thousands.

Secretarial work• Up until the mid 1980s, when letters or reports needed to be typed, a typist would use a manual typewriter.

• Each page had to be typed carefully since mistakes were hard to fix - usually the page would have to be typed out again.

• There were no formatting features - if you wanted something bold, you had to type over the same words twice!

Typists would also work in large rooms, such as the one seen above. They were called the 'typing pool'

Secretarial workWith the introduction of ICT, things have changed a lot in this field.

There are no longer typing pools - they are not needed. Most people in an organisation do their own typing directly into their desktop PC.

They can made amendments as they go along, they can use formatting to improve the look of their document and they can correct mistakes quickly.

Secretarial workOnly senior managers in a company might now have a secretary - but she is more likely to be called a PA or 'Personal Assistant' and their work is much more varied that just typing. For example arranging meetings and appointments, making travel arrangements and so on.

Typing is no longer a specialist skill - you are expected to be able to type from the day you start work in an office.

As a result of ICT, many typist lost their jobs. Those that didn't, had to change from using the typewriter to being able to use a PC.

Loss of employment• Inevitably, since ICT can automate many jobs

and do them not only faster but also more accurately, then many of the old jobs have disappeared.

• We no longer have typing pools full of secretaries, there is no need for an office full of clerks to calculate and count out weekly wages, there is no need for printers to manually typeset the newspaper pages.

• Many hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs over the last couple of decades.

New job opportunities

On the positive side, ICT has resulted in many new jobs being created.

Network Technician• Helps set up office and school

networks• Monitors network performance• Installs new software• Sets up and monitors user accounts• Ensures network security

New job opportunitiesComputer programmer

• Writes the code for new software• Adapts or develops existing software

Website Designers

• With the explosion of the Internet, there has been a huge demand for people who can design and create websites.

• There has also been many jobs created around web advertising, web hosting and e-commerce

TASK

• Complete this task about ICT and jobs

Teleworking and Hot-desking taskGet into pairs – your task will be to carry out some research and create a short 4 slide presentation explaining:

o What Teleworking and Hot-desking iso The advantages and disadvantages of both types of working

Success Criteria

Your presentation should contain appropriate fonts and images for people of your age

Your presentation must contain appropriate transitions and loop automatically.

* Your teacher will choose two pairs at the end of the task to present their finding to the rest of the class

Use these websites to help you:

http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/definition/hot-desking

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11879241

http://www.bobulous.org.uk/misc/flexible-working.html

http://jobs.lovetoknow.com/Telecommuting_Advantages_and_Disadvantages

Advantages of ICT in the workplace

Computers are great because...

1. Computers can increase the amount of work done. This makes a business more productive and competitive

2. Computers can do the boring, repetitive work and leave employees to do more interesting jobs

Disadvantages of ICT in the workplace

Computers are rubbish because...

1. It’s expensive to keep investing in the latest technology and it takes time and money to retrain staff.

2. There may be job losses as computers can replace people for some tasks.

3. Continued use of computers can cause health problems

Plenary

Complete the crossword on today’s lesson!

Homework

Complete the questions on today’s lesson!