About TBQ

Editor - Nigel Phillips

The Big Question Books and TBQ Magazine are a comprehensive career and employability skills education resource for Primary and Secondary students.

These resources form part of the career-life skills development series and are packed with interactive activities, competitions and information designed to help students:

• explore and better understand the many different career pathways before them;
• easily gather more information about thier area/s of interest;
• learn about the careers in different industries from people they admire;
• develop employability skills through interactive activities; and
• get advice on how to enter career paths that they are interested in.

The Big Question books series and TBQ Magazine are designed to integrate providing a complete curriculum resource for career education. 

For example:

• The books provide a structured activity based curriculum resource (using a disassociated learning pedagogy), and
• TBQ Magazine provides current and detailed information about different career pathways and the skills required to enter them (brought down to a fun level where students can see how they can begin developing the skills required in their career interest - NOW!).

The Big Question Book 1 is an activity book for upper primary to first year secondary students.

The Big Question Book 2 is for lower secondary students.

The books have been produced to assist the development of key skills and attributes such as confidence, problem solving and communication that have a significant impact on lifelong, career-life success.

In the books, students follow Max and Mia through a series of real-life situations and how they answer the big question: (Book 1) What do you want to do when you grow up? and (Book 2) What makes me unique and special?

Through various scenarios, questions and reflection activities, readers are encouraged to explore career pathways and better develop their employability skills.

The Big Question fits in with recent curriculum developments in all Australian states with its emphasis on interpersonal development, personal learning and interdisciplinary learning. 

These resources also support the development of many values, skills and specific knowledge areas including:

Book 1	Book 2
Take a look inside TBQ Book 1	Take a look inside TBQ Book 2
Key Question: What do you want to do when you grow up?	Key Question: What makes me unique and special?
Values and qualities Self-esteem Building relationships Racial tolerance/multicultural acceptance Confidence Skills Imagination Persistence Questioning skills Interviewing skills Network-building Teamwork Asking for help Knowledge Different career pathways and options Skills required in different careers Strategies to deal with challenges	Values and qualities Self-belief Giving and receiving help Racial tolerance/multicultural acceptance Confidence Skills Problem solving Dealing with bullying Financial literacy Getting work experience Building relationships Teamwork and Leadership Employability Skills Knowledge Dealing with problems and seeking help Developing employability skills Developing career interests and pathways

 

The books include a range of activities including Skills Checks, Action Plans and classroom activities.

The TBQ Books and associated Magazine are designed to form a complete classroom "Career Education and Employability Skills" curriculum resource.