Aspire Generation - Unit Overview (Work Studies)

The La Trobe University Aspire Generation Work Studies unit supports students in Years 9 & 10 to consider volunteering and community service as a way to give back to their communities, while developing the skills and aptitudes required in work. It addresses the content descriptors of the Australian Curriculum: Work Studies. Learning activities in this resource are most suitable for use with Year 9 & 10 students, however can be amended and adapted for other year levels and subjects. Learning activities include student engagement with real-world information and learning stimuli, group work, visible thinking routines and use of ICT for investigation and demonstration of thinking and learning. The lesson activities support students to create artefacts for the purpose of formative and summative assessment.

Students are required to engage in meaningful reflection at the conclusion of each lesson, and are encouraged to continue their thinking, scrutiny and application of the topics addressed throughout each lesson. The investigation and learning completed throughout the unit is applied to students’ local context through a scaffolded student-led social action project, wherein students choose a challenge faced by the local community, how they will take action and the manner in which they will present their learning for exhibition to a real audience.

Students are encouraged to find and pursue volunteer and community service opportunities throughout the unit, and are guided to find out about La Trobe University’s Aspire Generation (for school-aged students) and the Aspire Program, a university admissions program, which considers volunteering and community engagement experience of all applicants – the Aspire Program is for people who’ve made a positive impact on their community – whether it’s through volunteering, leadership or community engagement.

Access the Aspire Generation Work Studies unit here.