Robot Race Slides FUTURE WORK LAB: MODULE 1
Robot Race Day
How automation changes the way we build everything.
The Big Question
"Can a robot build a paper airplane faster and more accurately than you?"
Speed
How fast can goods be produced?
Accuracy
Do they all look the same?
Cost
What does it cost to hire/build?
What is Automation?
The use of technology and machinery to perform tasks without human intervention.
Repetitive tasks
Dangerous environments
High-precision work
"Doing more with less human effort."
The Simulation
Group A: Manual
1 One person does every step.
2 Must check quality themselves.
3 Slow and steady!
Group B: "Automated"
1 Assembly line: each person does ONE fold.
2 Use a template (our "robot logic").
3 Speed is the goal!
Place Your Bets!
✋
Manual Lab
Will they have better quality?
🤖
Automated Line
Will they produce 2x as many?
"Get your data sheets ready..."
Assembly Line Data Sheet Assembly Line Data Sheet
Future Work Lab | Module 1: Automation Simulation
Name:
Date:
Objective
Compare the efficiency (speed and accuracy) of a Manual Workspace (one person builds) versus an Automated Line (team assembly line).
Phase 1: Predictions
Which method will be faster?
Which will have higher quality?
Phase 2: Simulation Data
Method Total Produced (5 mins) Defects (Broken/Bad) Success Rate (%) Manual Assembly Automated Line
Phase 3: Analysis
1. Why was the Automated Line faster or slower than the Manual Workspace?
2. If you were the manager of this factory, which method would you choose to save money? Why?
3. Human Element: What is one thing a human can do that the "Automated" workers couldn't do today?
Simulation Teacher Guide Teacher Resource
Robot Race Day Guide
Facilitating the Automation Simulation
Duration
45-60m
Materials & Setup
Items needed per class:
50-100 sheets of scrap paper
Stopwatch or classroom timer
Tape (for "automated" line templates)
Large "Quality Bin" (box for finished planes)
PRO-TIP
Pre-fold one "Perfect Plane" to serve as the quality standard. Any plane not matching this standard is a "defect."
Role Definitions
Manual Workspace
Each student works alone. They are responsible for the entire process: Folding 1 -> Folding 2 -> Folding 3 -> Flight Test.
Concept: Skilled craftsmanship and individual labor.
Automated Line
Students form a line. Person 1 only does Fold A. Person 2 only does Fold B. Person 3 checks quality. Use tape marks on the desk as "guides."
Concept: Specialization and automated processes.
Step-by-Step Procedure
1
Introduction (10m)
Present the slides. Explain the concept of automation. Do not reveal which method you think will win yet!
2
The Simulation (15m)
Run the race for 5 minutes. Set the timer. Ensure the Manual Workspace group stays separate from the Automated Line.
3
Quality Control (5m)
Appoint 2 students as "Quality Inspectors." They discard any planes that aren't folded correctly. Count the "Final Good Products."
4
Discussion & Analysis (15m)
Use the discussion prompts below to help students complete their data sheets.
Discussion Prompts
Labor Demand: If we used a machine to do all the folding, how many human jobs would disappear? What new jobs might be created (maintenance, repair)?
Efficiency vs. Satisfaction: How did it feel to do the same fold for 5 minutes straight? How did it feel to build a whole plane yourself?
Real World: Where have you seen automation in real life? (Grocery self-checkout, car factories, automated car washes).
Office or Anywhere Slides FUTURE WORK LAB: MODULE 2
Office or Anywhere
How the internet changed where we work.
The Traditional Office
The Commute
Traveling to a central building every morning.
In-Person Team
Talking to coworkers face-to-face.
Fixed Hours
Working "9 to 5" in the same desk.
"For 100 years, the office was the only place to work."
The Remote Revolution
Technology like high-speed internet, video calls, and cloud storage allows work to happen anywhere.
Video Meetings
Laptops
Instant Messaging
Cloud Tools
The Pros:
No commute time
Flexible schedule
Hire people globally
Reduced pollution
Imagine going to school from your bedroom every day...
Great Part
"Pajamas all day!"
Hard Part
"Missing my friends."
Not Everyone Can Work Remote
Which jobs require a physical location?
Surgeons
Chefs
Drivers
Builders
💡
Workplace equality: Why is it important that some people have to commute while others don't?
Remote vs Office Comparison Sheet Office vs. Anywhere
Future Work Lab | Module 2: The Modern Workspace
Agent Name:
Deployment Date:
Intelligence Briefing
Compare and contrast traditional office environments with modern remote work. Consider aspects like commuting, social interaction, technology needs, and clothing.
Traditional Office
Remote Work
BOTH
Environmental Impact
If 1,000 people in your city started working from home instead of driving to an office, what is one positive change that might happen to the environment?
Social Connection
What is one social problem a remote worker might face if they never leave their house for work?
Remote Work Discussion Guide Teacher Resource
Office or Anywhere
Facilitating the Remote Work Discussion
Lesson 2
Learning Objectives
Identify technology that makes remote work possible.
Analyze the pros and cons of centralized vs. decentralized work.
Evaluate the environmental impact of reduced commuting.
Vocabulary
Commute
Travel between home and work.
Remote Work
Work done away from an office.
Collaboration
Working together on a task.
Discussion Framework
The Environmental Angle
Focus on the reduction of carbon footprints when thousands of cars stay off the road.
Prompt: "If a whole city worked from home on Fridays, what would happen to the air quality?"
The Social Angle
Discuss loneliness and the lack of "water cooler" talk (casual social interaction).
Prompt: "How do remote workers make friends if they don't see anyone in person all day?"
The Equity Angle
Some jobs cannot be remote. Discuss how this affects different types of workers.
Prompt: "Is it 'fair' that some people get to work from home while others have to drive in rain or snow?"
The Family Angle
Flexibility allows parents to be home more, but work/life balance can get "blurry."
Prompt: "If your parent works in the kitchen, are they 'at work' or 'at home'?"
Quick Activity: Can it be Remote?
Read these jobs aloud and have students give a "Thumbs Up" for Remote or "Thumbs Down" for In-Person. Ask for 1 reason why.
Video Game Designer
Firefighter
Customer Support
Dentist
Accountant
Plumber
Gig Seekers Slides FUTURE WORK LAB: MODULE 3
Gig Seekers
Flexibility, Freelancing, and the Future of Tasks.
What is a "Gig"?
A "Gig" is a short-term task or job that you get paid for per piece or per hour, instead of having a permanent boss.
Musical Origins:
The term comes from musicians who would play one "gig" (show) at a club and then move to the next one!
Musician
Delivery Driver
Freelance Writer
Graphic Artist
Traditional vs. Gig
Traditional Job
Monthly Salary (Steady Pay)
Set Schedule (9 AM - 5 PM)
One Boss / One Workplace
Benefits (Healthcare, Sick Days)
Gig Economy
Task Pay (Paid after each job)
Choose your own hours
Find work via Apps/Websites
You pay for your own tools/insurance
The App Economy
In the past, finding "gigs" was hard. Today, Smartphone Apps connect workers to tasks instantly.
Searchable Skills
Rating Systems
Instant Digital Pay
Find a Gig Near You
Dog Walker
2 miles away
$20
Logo Designer
Online Task
$150
Grocery Delivery
Starts NOW
$15+ tips
ACCEPT TASK
What if you had five different bosses and you chose when to work for each one?
Freedom
Uncertainty
Gig Work Comparison Worksheet Gig vs. Traditional
Future Work Lab | Module 3: Gig Economy
Name:
Score:
Activity 1: The Sorting Task
Read the job descriptions below. Write "TRADITIONAL" or "GIG" next to each one.
Sarah works at a bank. She has the same desk every day and gets a paycheck every two weeks regardless of how many customers she helps.
Marcus uses an app on his phone to find people who need their grass mowed. He gets paid $30 as soon as he finishes each lawn.
Dr. Lee is a surgeon at a city hospital. She has health insurance paid for by the hospital and follows a strict 12-hour shift schedule.
Elena is a graphic designer. She works for 10 different companies at once, designing logos from her laptop. She picks which projects she wants to do.
Leo drives a delivery van for a large shipping company. He wears a uniform and must follow the route the company gives him every day.
Activity 2: The Trade-Off
What is the biggest BENEFIT of being a gig worker?
What is the biggest CHALLENGE of being a gig worker?
The "My Choice" Challenge
Imagine you are 25 years old. Would you rather have one steady "Traditional" job or five different "Gigs" every week? Explain your reasoning with at least two details from today's lesson.
World Wide Work Slides FUTURE WORK LAB: MODULE 4
World Wide Work
Connecting local jobs to the global marketplace.
The Backpack Mystery
How many miles did the items in your backpack travel to get to your desk today?
Did you know?
A single smartphone contains parts made in over 30 different countries before it is put together!
Check your tags!
Vietnam? China? El Salvador? Mexico? Italy?
The Global Supply Chain
1. Raw Materials
Mining metal or growing cotton.
2. Manufacturing
Building parts in factories.
3. Shipping
Traveling across the ocean.
4. Your Desk
Ready for you to use!
"Every link in the chain represents thousands of workers."
The Glue: Digital Connection
How can a company in California manage a factory in Brazil and a designer in India?
Real-time Tracking (GPS)
Instant Translation Tools
24/7 Global Workflow
🌏
The World is our Office
Is Global Work Better?
BENEFITS
Lower prices for items
Jobs for people in poorer countries
Sharing of ideas and culture
CHALLENGES
Hard to track fair pay/safety
Environmental cost of shipping
Local jobs might be lost
"It's complicated! Let's map it out..."
Global Supply Chain Tracker Supply Chain Tracker
Future Work Lab | Module 4: Global Labor
Lead Researcher:
Location:
Mission Briefing
Investigate 4 items in your backpack or classroom. Look at the "Made in..." tags. Record the origins and then use a classroom map to calculate the approximate distance traveled.
Item Name Country of Origin Primary Material Miles Traveled
Chain Analysis
1. Which item traveled the furthest? Why do you think it wasn't made in the United States?
2. Global Teamwork: If a company makes a shoe in Vietnam but sells it in New York, what specific technologies do they need to make sure the shoe is made correctly?
3. Prediction: Do you think things will be made more locally or more globally in the future? Why?
Human Superpowers Slides FINAL MODULE: GRADUATION
Human Superpowers
Skills that technology cannot replace.
The Machine Domain
Fast Math
Calculating millions of numbers in a second.
Repetition
Doing the same task 24 hours a day without sleep.
Memory
Storing every piece of information ever written.
But something is missing...
Uniquely Human
Empathy
Understanding and sharing the feelings of another person.
Creativity
Making something new that never existed before.
Complex Solving
Finding answers when there is no clear "right" or "wrong".
"A computer has instructions. A human has imagination."
Case Study: The Future Doctor
AI Assistant
Scans 1 million medical books in 1 sec
Identifies a rare disease perfectly
Calculates the exact dosage of medicine
Human Doctor
Talks to the patient to calm them down
Makes a hard choice based on family wishes
Explains a scary diagnosis with kindness
Who would you rather have treating you?
Your Future Resume
Today, you will design a resume for the year 2045 . Instead of just listing what you can "do," you will list your Human Superpowers .
🎨
Creative Arts
🤝
Team Leadership
🌍
Social Good
Future Resume Template RESUME FOR THE FUTURE
Target Date: Year 2045
Full Name:
Dream Role:
Superpowers
Human-Centric Skill 1
Human-Centric Skill 2
Human-Centric Skill 3
Empathy Factor
Describe a time you helped someone feel better. Why can't a robot do this as well as you?
Future Experience
Project 1: Solving a Problem with Creativity
Project 2: Leading a Global Team
My Human Mission
In one sentence, why should a company hire a human like you instead of an AI?
Future Work Lab | End of Sequence Certificate
Future Skills Rubric Teacher Assessment Tool
Human Superpowers Rubric
Evaluating the Future Resume Project
Final Project
Criteria Expert (3) Proficient (2) Novice (1) Identifying Skills Identifies 3+ uniquely human skills with clear differentiation from machine abilities. Identifies 2-3 skills, though some may overlap with machine capabilities. Lists general skills without connecting them to the "human superpower" concept. Problem Solving Experience section shows a creative solution to a complex, non-repetitive problem. Experience section describes a task, but the "uniquely human" element is less clear. Experience section lists simple tasks that could be automated (e.g., counting, sorting). Economic Logic "Mission" articulates a strong economic reason for human employment in 2045. "Mission" mentions general benefits of humans but lacks specific economic reasoning. "Mission" is incomplete or does not address the technology/human balance. Self-Reflection Empathy section provides a deeply personal example of human connection. Empathy section provides a general example of being "nice" or "kind." Empathy section is vague or repeats classroom examples.
Teacher Notes & Feedback
Total Score:
/ 12
