A level business studies

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Playground business studies - Total Quality Management Spring 2012
  Want to get students out of the classroom and do some learning by doing? Every school has stacking chairs which is ideal for this simple activity highlighting the importance of efficiency in production
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Playground Business Studies - Organisation structures
  Want to get students out of the classroom and do some learning by doing? most pupils will have passed notes around the class at some point in their school life. This activity allows them to do it legitimately and reveals the importance of organisation structures in business.
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Playground Business Studies - Water balloon price elasticity
  Want to get students out of the classroom and do some learning by doing? A catapult and some cones (and a few water balloons of course) are all you need to bring the concept of price elasticity of demand to life.
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Advising on legal structure
  A role play activity which can be used with groups to take into account different scenarios related to appropriate business legal structures.
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Two sides to every story - a class debate about relocation
  An idea for when teaching stakeholder conflicts
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Dot.com again?
  Former broker turned teacher, Chris Mason, provides an interesting assessment of a new wave of dot.com stock price increases and asks if another bubble is developing. The article looks at popular businesses such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Groupon and asks whether a bubble is beginning, or has already been and gone. A series of questions provided allows you to use this article for either classwork or homework.
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 The selection of Economics material on Business Studies courses: can threshold concepts help us find a framework? Autumn 2011
   Using the idea of threshold concepts, Russell looks at how decisions might be made by curriculum designers on what Economics material might be usefully included in Business Studies courses and what might not. Page 5

 Using sport to teach topics in Economics and Business Studies Summer 2011 
  If you have a group of students who love sport then why not take advantage of the ideas presented by Harriet Thompson to make links between what they might know and love with what they need to learn in Business Studies and Economics? This article shows examples of some really creative methods that young teachers are using to generate interest in our subjects. Page 11 
  Business Studies brain teasers Summer 2011
  Simple but effective – a ready to use resource to copy and give to students to get their brains working on identifying some key Business Studies terms. Ideal for using with groups or as a homework task – maybe even to get parents involved! Page 20
 Credit crunch cheat Summer 2011
  Most readers will have played the card game ‘Cheat’ before. Here Charlotte Davies utilises this popular game to introduce some ideas relating to ethics, morals and why the credit crunch occurred. Yes, there is a link! Page 21 
 Ideas on increasing the number and calibre of students who choose Business and Economics Summer 2011 
  Most Business Studies and Economics teachers know what it is like to battle against established departments who have the luxury of teaching their subject from Year 7. In this article Amy Croft outlines some strategies that her school has used to attract more students to study Business Studies and Economics Page 26
What's new in types of business organisations?  Autumn 2010
  Did you know that there was such a thing as a private unlimited company? The Companies Act 2006 introduced several changes of relevance to teachers covering types of business organisation. Here Karen Borrington offers an update of those changes that are relevant to teachers of this important topic. Page 5
Business Studies online Autumn 2010
  One of the few business studies websites produced by a full-time teacher, the founder of Business Studies Online explains the pedagogy of this resource. He offers some suggestions about how teachers and students can best make use of this innovative and interesting website. Page 8

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How to improve student performance in business and economics at key stages 4 and 5
  A look at how data monitoring can be used to improve student performance, no matter what the challenges faced by the school and department
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A level Business Studies: a student’s perspective:
  Find out what a student thinks of the subject, and how he would like to be taught. There are many positive suggestions here.
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A little bit of toast: exploring waste in a business context – understanding lean production
  Are you looking for a dramatic way of deepening students’ understanding of lean production? This article should be of interest to anybody teaching lean production techniques.
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What is the future for BA and the other major flag carriers in Europe?
  This case study is particularly rich in material of relevance for A level Business Studies and Economics. Either use it whole as part of an extended investigation, or select passages that provide opportunities for students to evaluate business strategies,
Page 6
Making cash flow fun
  Teaching accounts doesn’t need to be tedious or frightening. Introducing cash flow with a light-hearted game can make it accessible and relevant to all students.
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The AQA approach to controlled assessment in business subjects
  An AQA briefing on the essential features of the new assessment style.
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Is A level Business Studies a soft subject?
  This article explores the issues relating to the subject choices that students must make at the start of Year 12.
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Case study – Laverstoke Park Farm
  Using the context of an organic farm that is planning to extend a composting facility, this A level case study explores a business expansion proposal. Questions highlight the impact of government intervention on businesses and aspects of the current econo
Page 10
The Ofsted business education report
  Ofsted’s report Developing young people’s economic and business understanding evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of business education for 14–19 year olds in schools and colleges. To draw out the lessons for teachers, we put some questions to David Bu
Page 5
Entrepreneurs
  This is a first assignment for Year 12 students of business studies. It is set out as a single Page handout. It contains some innovative, engaging ideas that will help students to exploit to the full the benefits of investigating and presenting their find
Page 11
An easy way into financial ratios
  Providing students with some simple profit and loss and balance sheet figures for two companies, and encouraging them to evaluate their relative success, allows students to develop a really meaningful level of understanding. Make this your introductory l
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Global companies, fair trade and responsible production
  Will consumer pressure improve working conditions in developing countries? What will be the impact of the increasing commitment by multinationals to corporate social responsibility? Peter Knorringa examines recent efforts to establish responsible producti
Page 18
Teaching functional skills in business studies contexts
  In our last issue, Darren Gelder made a strong case for teaching functional skills in real world contexts. Here he outlines a possible approach. This short article will be of particular interest to teachers of Applied Business, a diploma course or a BTEC
Page 27
Teaching public accounts
  Are you struggling with the new terminologies for plc accounts? This article will help you to guide your students. The verdict is to keep it as simple as possible. Ted Baker’s accounts are used by way of illustration.
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Annual reports and accounts: corporate PR hype or a useful resource?
  Just in case you are tempted to abandon glossy annual reports, read this and get some fresh ideas that encourage independent investigation. Most suggestions are located well away from the accounts themselves, so this complements Ian Marcousé’s article.
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A level business studies: using ICT to enhance teaching and learning
  Are you trying to evaluate the range of resources available so that you can pick the best for your students? Making good choices can be very time consuming. This article should help.
Page 13
Using management insights to improve student learning
  This article ranges widely over the nature of management, the problems we all have managing the learning process and the varied ways in which students actually absorb knowledge and develop understanding. It addresses motivational issues in quite new ways.
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The business curriculum: moving the subject forward
  The business curriculum: moving the subject forward
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What a crisis!
  If you are going to teach crisis management or contingency planning to A2 Business Studies students, this user friendly counterfactual will come in very handy. Starting with a case study on Bernard Matthews, it encourages students to come up with proposa
Page 23
Budgeting: an opportunity for financial capability
  Here is a way of fostering the development of financial capability that will score on student relevance while also introducing useful ideas for A level Business.
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The question is the answer (part 2)
  In the Spring 2008 issue of Teaching Business & Economics, Stephen Barnes argued that business teachers need to encourage a more question-led culture in the classroom. In this sequel, he provides specific suggestions and teaching strategies that set out h
Page 6
Interactive whiteboard ideas for business studies
 
  Are you frustrated by the lack of suggestions about how to use your interactive whiteboard? This article provides some specific examples of how to use whiteboards in the classroom and create long-lasting business studies resources.
Case study - Sources of finance, Eddie Stobart Ltd
  Teaching sources of finance is always enhanced by an appropriate case study that can provide an engaging context. This one has been set up to suit an AS or an able GCSE Business Studies group. It
could easily be adapted for other courses by reworking the
Page 12
New A level specifications
  Reviews by teachers of the specifications that will be used from September 2008. They may help teachers decide which is best for their students.
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The question is the answer (part 1)
  Set in the context of approaches to business teaching, this article argues for that teachers need to do more to encourage questions and curiosity in the classroom.
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A good head for business
  Strategies for identifying, challenging and nurturing talented and gifted students in business. classroom. Includes ideas for differentiation.
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Teaching economics concepts to students of business and management studies
  Ideas on how to make economics clearly relevant to business students. Many of the suggestions reflect good practice in teaching generally.
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Managing public services: the case of local authority sport
  Looking at the provision of sports facilities, this case study will be helpful when teaching market failure, efficiency, externalities, the role of the public sector and merit goods.
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Harvey’s Hot Water Bottles (economies of scale)
  This engaging lesson will help students understand of economies of scale. By recognising the practical situations in which economies of scale can be exploited, students can go on to apply the concepts to other businesses.
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Using digital video in business education
  This article explores two ways in which digital video was used to create a powerful learning experience, motivating students to engage with course content and with business issues.
Page 29
How the Monetary Policy Committee controls UK inflation
  Written by a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, this inside view explains how the UK attempts to control inflation and how it responds to changing global pressures on prices.
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Where to find great marketing data
  By using data from the Marketing Pocket Book, supplemented with official statistics and some primary research, students can develop deeper insights into marketing.
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Constructing a critical business studies
  Making the case for examining enterprise from a more critical stance, the author considers how a critical business studies might be delivered in the context of A level Business Studies.
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The banking crisis
  Reflections on the turmoil at Northern Rock. This article examines the issues at the centre of the crisis and suggests ways in which the story can be used in A level teaching.
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Teaching business and enterprise at Christmas
  A light-hearted look at the business practices that underpin the global Santa operation.
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Dictionaries and glossaries: false friends?
  Many students struggle to understand key terms and concepts. Practical suggestions on how to teach key terms more effectively on business and economics programmes.
Page 23
Business ethics and corporate social responsibility
  Business strategies, practices and decisions are often taught from a highly positive perspective. This article argues the case for examining business decisions from a much more critical stance in the context of recent global, national and local developmen
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Britain's national daily newspaper industry
  This case study looks at the long-term trends in the national daily newspaper market. It includes excellent data and could provide teaching opportunities for several courses. It concludes with discussion questions for A level students and some practical s
Page 5
Keeping up with the economists: using game theory in the classroom
  Economics is changing discipline and it is time to think about some of the newer ideas that are accessible at A level. This article highlights areas that deserve wider consideration. It shows how game theory can be built into the teaching of topics that i
Page 10
Remuneration
  A wealth of tips for teaching about remuneration, including a quick matching activity and a wide-ranging look at interesting issues for discussion.
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The talent gap
  Business or GCSE Business and Economics
Page 16
Training: illustrating the benefits
  This lesson plan presents a great way to learn about the benefits of training, and the frustrations of being under-trained for a task.
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Using key terms in business studies
  Looking at different ways of using key terms to enhance learning and understanding, including the use of mind maps as revision tool and a device to generate questions in the classroom.
Page 24
Something for nothing: ten top business websites
  A survey of the most popular and useful sites that provide free business news and company case studies, including some you probably haven’t seen yet.
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Guerrilla marketing
  Guerrilla marketing explained, with a supporting student handout and activity.
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Risk management
  Explores the ways in which businesses deal with risks and explains how to cope with the jargon of futures and options using orange juice as an example.
Page 8
Foreign direct investment: an activity to assess country risk
  Shows how students can explore location issues in the context of investment projects, using Nigeria as an example. The approach can be adapted for other countries.
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Hitting the ground running
  Doing a research project early on in the course can be a great way to develop understanding of business problems and solutions
Page 17
Stop right now thank you very much
  Students use a traffic light system to signal their level of understanding, providing instant feedback for the teacher. This approach could be used in a range of contexts.
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Running a school shop…watching the cash and preventing problems before they arise
  Top tips from the voice of experience. Suggestions relevant to all who are looking for experiential approaches for work-related learning or enterprise programmes.
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Let the market work!
  A lively survey of markets and how they work. It includes a thought-provoking personal view of the advantages that a much smaller public sector might bring to the UK economy.
Page 4
Globalisation: how China and India are changing the debate
  A review of the changes that have driven the globalisation process.
Page 8
The marketing of marketing
  Reflections on the role of marketing and the ethical issues that arise.
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Persuasive and informative advertising
  A lesson plan suitable for key stage 4, written up as an outline of what you might actually say to the class and the issues for discussion. The idea could be adapted for AS.
Page 19
Stock market challenge
  Introducing a stock market game, suitable for both business and economics A level students.
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Coming of age
  It is 36 years since the first business studies exam paper was set. Taking stock, this article suggests that it is time to re-establish the subject’s credentials and to shift teacher culture away from delivery and coverage.
Page 5
Teaching evaluation skills in real business contexts
  A level students often under perform on exam questions which emphasise evaluation This lesson plan is designed to help year 13 students prepare for the exam for AQA’s unit on external influence, objectives and strategy
Page 8
Cod stock recovery on the North Sea: some economic considerations
  Industries dependent on renewable resources have many characteristics that make for fascinating economic analysis: the economics of the North Sea fishing industry.
Page 9
Market rap
  Teaching market economics through the medium of rap!
Page 13
Teaching externalities and stakeholder perspectives
  This article describe a game that enables students to gain some understanding of planning issues. It based around a scenario in which a supermarket wishes to build a new superstore on school playing fields.
Page 14
Supporting the delivery of applied business programmes
  A basic introduction to applied business courses, signposting readers to useful resources developed by the Learning and Skills Development Agency.
Page 17
Making the most of e-learning: a business department’s experience
  Reports on one departments approach to e-learning and describes how careful design of ICT-supported tasks for contact and non-contact time can improve students learning.
Page 19
Come back Cambridge Linear
  Urging a rethink about the nature of A level Business Studies, this article looks at what can be learned from the Cambridge Linear course in reshaping the contemporary curriculum.
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How do I make business lessons relevant to students?
  Arguing that concept formation is the key to putting learning together, and making it personally relevant, this article sets out some classroom strategies, homework and extension tasks for engaging the interest of business studies students.
Page 7
Business speak: cutting through the fog
  Reaction to some of the statements made all too frequently by Business students in the course of providing their answers to questions and tasks set on A Level Business papers.
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Joined-up business thinking
  Introducing InterQB-It(r), a teaching resource that aims to help students gain an understanding of the complexity of a modern business organisation and the interdependence of (and relationships between) its constituent parts.
Page 24
Leeds United scores own goal
  Examining corporate strategies on borrowing to finance expansion in the context of the financial problems at Leeds United.
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New light on an old chestnut: breakeven analysis from a pedagogical perspective
  A critique of some conventional textbook terminology and an application of learning theory to the teaching of breakeven analysis.
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Using off-the-peg market research reports [company analysis]
  Introducing teachers and students to Key Note and Mintel, the two main players in the UK for published market research. Includes sample GCSE and A level questions on using Key Note data calculate return on capital and to assess the business performance of
Page 30
Survival: an introduction to economics
  Activities for A level students new to economics. Three lesson plans to ease students into collaborative work and to introduce the ideas of scarcity, choice and opportunity costs.
Page 10
The approaches to investment appraisal
  The capital budgeting process, the present value formula, scenario analysis, internal rate of return, payback approaches and return on capital employed.
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The approaches to investment appraisal
  The capital budgeting process, the present value formula, scenario analysis, internal rate of return, payback approaches and return on capital employed.
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Using reciprocal language to develop students’ language and understanding: a franchising case study
  How case studies can be used to develop students’ language skills. The authors explain a successful approach to improving literacy.
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Investigating competition policy
  A classroom activity on competition policy. The activity draws on material in the article by John Vickers in the Summer 2001 issue.
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What factors attract foreign direct investment?
  The authors identify and analyse the factors that influence the attraction of inbound FDI to UK regions.
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Passing the test: assessing business finance on the AVCE Business
  A focus on the external test for business finance: how the assessment is organised, an analysis of the January 2001 results and some strategies for taking the test successfully.
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Marking Business AS papers: a personal reflection
  What you can learn about teaching from marking exam papers.
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100p a day public utilities pricing policy
  Addresses two questions: what part does economics and business analysis play in making strategic decisions; and what do economists do in a regulatory office.
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In search of a strategy
  On overview of contemporary business practice in strategic management and corporate planning.
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Speaking a common language [export strategies]
  The challenge facing a small software company in developing export markets. Classroom activities and stimulus materials.
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Price elasticity of demand
  Breakeven analysis and pricing decisions
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