Lesson Overview
The lesson sequence on “Sustainability for Business Growth” aims to help students understand how businesses can embed sustainable practices to reduce costs, drive innovation, and enhance their market position. By examining real-world business strategies, students will gain insights into how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles influence profitability, reputation, and resilience.
Sustainable Development Goal Alignment
Key Features of Lesson Sequence
Generalised Curriculum Alignment Opportunities:
Delivery
The lesson package is designed for classroom delivery. Access to https:/brownee.io is required.
Contacts
Questions regarding this learning sequence and Central Coast Education Networks can be directed to Duncan Burck, Project Lead:
e: [email protected]
m: 0448 654 007
https://centralcoast.educationnetworks.com.au
Lesson Overview
Lesson Plan
Student Workbook
Teacher Resources
Net Z(ed) – Student Permission Form: Digital Credential
In these video interviews with Guido Toepfer, Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson of Brownee, students learn about the value of businesses embracing sustainability and the tool his company has created to help small and medium-sized businesses accelerate their assess sustainability in their business.
The introduction and ESG explanation video will set the scene for students to become trainee business sustainability consultants, using the Brownee tools to assess a business and then make recommendations for them to adopt or take action on sustainability initiatives.
In these videos students are introduced to three Business on the Central Coast who embrace sustainability across their businesses.
Video 1: Signarama – From the Coast to the Olympics
Video 2: TrendPac – Making a BIG statement about Central Coast sustainability internationally.
Download/Access Video from Vimeo here:
Video 1: BioAction – A Day 1 commitment to sustainability
Students will become Sustainability Consultants, assessing local businesses and providing recommendations on how can activate sustainability practices for their business. The following videos (aligned to the lesson sequence) steers student through the use of the Brownee app, and discusses the process for compiling a final report with recomendations for the business.
Video 1: Teacher Guide_Brownee (Teachers to review)
Download/Access Video from Vimeo here:
Video 2: Introducing the Brownee.io Platform
Video 3: Business Assessment – Classroom Discussion
Download/Access Video from Vimeo here:
Video 4: Making Your Recommendations
Lesson Sequence: Preparing For A Career on the Coast
Assessment Task: Sustainability Report/Presentation (Generalisation Activity)
Learning Objectives Assessed:
| Criteria | Beginning (1-2 Marks) | Developing (3-4 Marks) | Proficient (5-6 Marks) | Exceeding (7-8 Marks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Understanding of Sustainability & Business Growth | Demonstrates a limited or inaccurate understanding of sustainability in a business context. Fails to clearly articulate why sustainability is important for business growth, or provides simplistic reasons. | Demonstrates a basic understanding of sustainability’s importance for business. Articulates some reasons for its relevance to business growth but may lack depth or clear connections. | Clearly understands and articulates the importance of sustainability as a business growth strategy. Provides several well-explained reasons for its contribution to business success (e.g., reputation, efficiency, customer trust). | Demonstrates a comprehensive and insightful understanding of sustainability’s critical role as a business growth strategy. Effectively articulates nuanced and interconnected reasons for its impact on various aspects of business success (e.g., market advantage, innovation, risk management). |
| 2. Brownee.io Assessment & Analysis | Conducted a superficial or incomplete assessment using Brownee.io. Analysis of the business’s sustainability is minimal, inaccurate, or fails to identify clear strengths, weaknesses, or opportunities from the tool’s findings. | Used Brownee.io adequately to conduct an assessment, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. Identifies some areas for improvement or opportunities but may lack specific detail or clear justification from the Brownee data. | Effectively used Brownee.io to conduct a thorough and largely accurate sustainability assessment of the chosen business. Clearly identifies key strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities for integrating sustainable practices based on the tool’s recommendations. | Masterfully used Brownee.io to conduct a highly comprehensive and insightful assessment. Provides sophisticated analysis, identifying subtle nuances, interconnected opportunities, and potential challenges, demonstrating a deep understanding derived from the Brownee data. |
| 3. Strategic Recommendations & ESG Application | Recommendations are vague, impractical, or do not clearly align with the business’s needs or sustainability/ESG principles. Little to no evidence of understanding how ESG applies. | Recommendations are somewhat relevant and practical, but may lack specificity, thoroughness, or a clear and explicit connection to all three ESG principles. | Develops practical, relevant, and well-justified strategic recommendations (2-3) that clearly enhance the business’s sustainability efforts. Demonstrates a solid understanding and application of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within the recommendations. | Develops highly innovative, practical, and comprehensively justified strategic recommendations (2-3). Expertly integrates and articulates all three ESG principles, showing foresight and a deep understanding of the potential long-term impact on the business. |
| 4. Quality of Report/Presentation | The report/presentation is disorganised, lacks clarity, and has minimal or ineffective visual aids. The high-level introduction, recommendations, and impact are difficult to follow or are missing. Engagement is low. | The report/presentation is somewhat organised but may lack consistent clarity or engaging delivery. Visual aids are basic. Some elements (introduction, recommendations, impact) might be present but lack depth or strong connections. | The report/presentation is clear, well-organised, and engaging. Effectively uses visual aids to support content. Provides a clear high-level introduction of the business, well-articulated sustainability recommendations, and a discussion of their anticipated impact. | The report/presentation is exceptional, highly compelling, meticulously organised, and visually sophisticated. Provides a strong narrative, articulates complex ideas with outstanding clarity, and demonstrates profound understanding of the business, recommendations, and their broader impact. |
Total Marks: /32
Grading
This grading scale reflects the 32-point marking rubric.
Demonstrates exceptional understanding, critical thinking, and engagement, consistently exceeding expectations across all rubric criteria.
Percentage Range: 84% – 100%
Demonstrates solid understanding and active engagement, meeting or often exceeding expectations in most rubric criteria.
Percentage Range: 66% – 81%
Demonstrates basic understanding and satisfactory engagement, meeting expectations in core rubric criteria.
Percentage Range: 47% – 63%
Shows limited understanding and engagement, often falling below expectations in several rubric criteria; needs further support.
Percentage Range: 28% – 44%
Demonstrates minimal understanding and engagement, significantly below expectations across most rubric criteria.
Percentage Range: Below 28%
Students completing the lesson sequence are invited to apply for a Central Coast Education Networks Digital Credential.
In Central Coast Education Networks, we recognise and celebrate the learning and contributions of all, from student achievements and teacher development to industry and partner participation.
When we credential and badge these achievements, we’re also capturing valuable data insights and reflections, enhancing our understanding of stakeholders and enabling us to be genuine collaborators and supporters of their journeys in our Central Coast Education
Your students, should they choose, will be applying for the Central Coast Education Networks Credential: ‘Sustainability for Business 2025 – Foundations. To complete this application, students will be directed to a short online questionnaire.
Note: As students’ names and emails are collected during the application process, parental or carer consent is required for students under sixteen (16) for the credential to be issued. Parents/Carers can complete this consent here: https://centralcoast.educationnetworks.com.au/credentials-digital-badges/parent-carer-information
We recognise that participation in the piloting or testing of any resources being developed is at the discretion of schools and teachers and realise challenges to collaboration can pop up at any time. Our approach is to be flexible, supportive, and mindful of educators’ workloads, while realising all feedback we receive from teachers during this process will lead to the development of classroom resources and student experiences that will benefit everyone.
What We Ask from our education collaborators:
Our hope is that this approach ensures that the learning experiences remain practical, adaptable, and informed by those who will use them most—teachers and students.
Generally, we curate lesson sequences to align with an Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) approach. However, we are not prescriptive about how a teacher uses these resources; use them as you see fit for your class and students.
Industry Partner Note: Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) is an educational approach that emphasises investigation, exploration, and problem-solving. This method allows students to actively engage with real-world challenges, making it easier for industry partners to contribute meaningfully.
The IBL learning sequence follows this structured framework:
Why We Chose Inquiry-Based Learning:
The IBL approach supports structured assessment and recognition, ensuring clear pathways for students, teachers, and industry partners to engage within the project credentialing framework.