This content is located in CAPS under Social Implications: Impact on Society for Grade 10.

When discussing the economic reasons for using computers in class, the goal is to show students how computers contribute to saving resources, reducing costs, and improving productivity in practical and impactful ways. This ties directly to CAPS by making learners think critically about computers’ influence on society and the economy.

Begin by engaging learners with examples from their everyday lives. For instance, ask them to think about why businesses use computers rather than managing things manually. This discussion will serve as a bridge to the key topics.

Saving Paper

Start by exploring how computers help reduce the use of paper, which is both economically and environmentally beneficial. Demonstrate this by comparing handwritten invoices or reports to digital alternatives like Excel spreadsheets or PDFs.
Classroom Activity: Have students calculate the amount of paper saved by using a computer to store and share a single document among 30 people versus printing copies for each. This activity can be done with free tools like Google Drive or Microsoft Word.

For resource-limited schools, use locally available materials to create a mock file system: paper folders for physical documents and a chalkboard to represent the “digital folder.” Discuss which option is faster, more secure, and environmentally friendly.

Labour

Highlight how computers reduce labour costs by automating repetitive tasks. For instance, payroll systems automate salary calculations, replacing manual bookkeeping. Show students real-world tools like Microsoft Excel formulas or Google Sheets that simplify these tasks.
Interactive Idea: Create a simple payroll calculation activity using spreadsheets. Students can enter working hours and pay rates, and the spreadsheet automatically calculates wages. Discuss how this approach saves both time and labour.

Communication Costs

Discuss how digital communication tools like email and messaging apps reduce costs compared to traditional methods like postal services or landline calls. Use relatable examples, such as sending a WhatsApp message versus mailing a letter.
Hands-On Activity: Ask students to role-play as a business owner trying to send the same message to 50 clients. Compare the time, costs, and speed of using handwritten notes versus emails or messaging apps.

Efficiency

Computers improve efficiency by processing tasks faster than manual methods. Relate this to the classroom by demonstrating tasks like creating a presentation or editing a photo.
Scenario Activity: Assign a mini-project where students must complete the same task using both manual tools (e.g., hand-drawn charts) and computer software. Compare the time taken and the quality of results, encouraging them to think about how efficiency impacts business operations.

Accuracy and Reliability

Computers are less prone to errors and more reliable than manual systems. Demonstrate this by showing how formulas in spreadsheets prevent calculation mistakes.
Practical Example: Provide students with a list of sales figures and ask them to manually calculate the total revenue. Then, use a spreadsheet to perform the same task and highlight the potential for human error versus computer accuracy.

Encourage learners to discuss the reliability of computers for data storage and security. Use examples like automatic backups and password-protected files to show how computers safeguard important information.

Wrapping It All Together

Conclude the lesson by asking students to summarise how each economic reason impacts businesses, schools, and their own homes. Use a simple table where students list examples of saving paper, labour, communication costs, efficiency, and reliability in everyday contexts. Invite students to discuss how these benefits might evolve in the future as technology advances. For example, how will artificial intelligence further improve efficiency and accuracy? Encourage learners to consider how these economic reasons shape decisions about using computers in their own lives and communities.