As an IB Business Management teacher, I've found that timing can be one of our biggest challenges. After sharing my experiences with Unit 1 (Introduction to Business), Unit 3 (Finance), and Unit 4 (Marketing), it's time to dive into Unit 2: Human Resources.
Timing in the IB Course Sequence
I typically teach Unit 2 after Unit 3. What makes Unit 2 unique is that it's split up by the mock, with students doing mock exams after covering about half to three-quarters of the content. If you're curious about how I structure my mock exams, you can check out my latest post about that approach.
Higher Level Breakdown
As a teacher, Unit 2 holds some of my absolute favorite topics to teach. The chapters on leadership and motivation are particularly engaging, as they lend themselves to dynamic classroom activities. I've developed numerous role-plays, discussions, and interactive PowerPoint presentations that really bring these concepts to life for students.
However, there are some challenging areas in the HL curriculum that require careful attention:
Organizational Culture (2.5): Students often struggle to grasp this concept fully, possibly because it's more abstract than other topics. I find this chapter particularly challenging to teach effectively.
Industrial Relations (2.7): This tends to be one of the more difficult topics for students to understand and engage with.
For my HL students, here's how I structure the timing for Unit 2:
Chapter | Total Time: |
2.1 | 3 classes |
2.2 | 5 classes |
2.3 | 4 classes |
2.4 | 8 classes |
Movie clip review | 1 class |
2.5 (HL only) | 4 classes |
2.6 | 4 classes |
2.7 (HL only) | 3 classes |
Standard Level Breakdown
While the SL content flow generally works well, I find that ending with communication (2.6) feels a bit odd in terms of sequencing. However, remember that you have the flexibility to adjust the order of topics to better suit your teaching style and students' needs.
For SL students, the timing looks like this:
Chapter | Total Time: |
2.1 | 3 classes |
2.2 | 3 classes |
2.3 | 4 class |
2.4 | 6 classes |
2.6 | 3 classes |
Additional Considerations
When planning your timing, keep in mind that you might need to factor in:
IA work days
Paper 3 practice sessions (for HL)
Review time before mock exams
These additional elements will extend the actual teaching time beyond what's shown in the basic breakdown. However, you might not need them at all if you have IA hand in dates or mock exams at a different time of year.
Final Thoughts
Every class is different, and you might find that you need to adjust these timings based on your students' needs and understanding. The key is to remain flexible while ensuring comprehensive coverage of all required topics.
What are your experiences with teaching Unit 2? Do you find yourself spending more time on certain topics? I'd love to hear your thoughts and approaches in the comments below!
Ready-to-Use Unit 2 Resources
Looking to make your Unit 2 teaching experience even more engaging? My PowerPoint presentations include those fun activities and role-plays I mentioned for leadership and motivation, plus carefully crafted explanations that make complex topics like organizational culture more accessible to students. Check them out below!
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