Hinge Questions

Objectives

To understand the theory behind hinge questions.

To understand how hinge question improve teaching and learning in Business Studies.

HINGE QUESTIONS

A Hinge question is based on the concept that it is critical for pupils to understand key topics

before moving on

The idea behind Hinge Questions

As the teacher you become more aware of the progress of individual pupils.

Tasks are targeted accurately to their level of understanding

As you teach, the students level becomes more apparent and then you can tailor the lesson to their needs

Ultimately each student should therefore be challenged because they are given appropriately pitched tasks.

Timing of hinge questions

The question should fall about midway during the lesson.

Every student must respond to the question within two minutes.

You must be able to collect and interpret the responses from all students in 30 seconds

Answering Hinge QuestionsAnswering Hinge Questions

There are numerous ways to gather responses to your hinge questions

White boards

ABCD cards

Paper Scissor Stone

Fingers

In Business Studies

Using 6 key topic areas:

Ownership (Liability)Production (Mass, batch, flow)Finance (Breakeven)External Factors (SWOT/PEST)Recruitment & selection (R&S process)Marketing (The 4 P’s)

Objectives

1. Be able to identify the Breakeven point on a graph

2. To describe the Breakeven point

3. To understand the reason for calculating the breakeven point

Assuming last lessons learning (fixed & variable costs) can be used as the foundations to this

lesson

The BREAKEVEN point

Business Costs

RENT RAW MATERIALS

A - Variable cost, these increase as the firms output increases

B - Fixed cost, these don’t vary with output

Consolidating last lessons learningWAGES –£ 6 per hour £18,000 a

year SALARY

PACKAGING INSURANCE – for the building and staff

INTEREST payments on loans/mortgages

TRANSPORTING the products

FIX

OR

VA

RIA

BLE

? FIX

OR

VA

RIA

BLE

?

Breakeven Graph

02000400060008000

1000012000140001600018000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Crates of Cake Sold

Re

ve

nu

e /

Co

sts

Fixed Costs

Total Costs

Total Revenue

Circle the point at which you believe the business has broken EVEN.

CLUE - The Cake business is not making a PROFITPROFIT or a LOSSLOSS

Breakeven Graph

02000400060008000

1000012000140001600018000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Crates of Cake Sold

Re

ve

nu

e /

Co

sts

Fixed Costs

Total Costs

Total Revenue

A

B

C

Q. 1 - Either A,B or C is the breakeven point. Two costs are even at the breakeven point. Which circle indicates the breakeven point?

Q. 2 – In the exam you need to be able to explain the breakeven point without the use of a diagram. The breakeven point is……………….. (use key terms)

Breakeven Definition – total costs are equal to total revenue

Breakeven Graph

02000400060008000

1000012000140001600018000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Crates of Cake Sold

Re

ve

nu

e / C

os

ts

Fixed Costs

Total Costs

Total Revenue

SO WHY! As the manager of this cake factory why should I bother working out the breakeven point? Is it because:

(Paper) – it shows me how much profit the business will make

(Scissors) – it shows me the difference between fixed and variable costs

(Stone) – it shows me the number crates I need to sell to cover my costs

PAPER & SCISSORS

Q. - What is the breakeven level of sales for this cake factory (figure & mark it on the graph)

Q. – Using the breakeven table and the blank graph create a new breakeven graph

Breakeven Graph

02000400060008000

1000012000140001600018000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Crates of Cake Sold

Reve

nue

/ Cos

ts Fixed Costs

Total Costs

Total Revenue

Q – Discuss why the manger of the cake business needs to work out the breakeven point of sales. Think about changing costs, changing price, changing production output, staffing levels

Q (Extension) – Why might the cake factory manger be wary of the breakeven point as a performance analysis and decision making tool.

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Fixed Costs 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000

Variable Costs 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000

Total Costs 6000 7000 8000 9000 1000010000 11000 12000

Sales Revenue 2000 4000 6000 8000 1000010000 12000 14000

BREAKEVEN EVEN TABLE

STONE

•Where is the verb in this sentence?

•The dog ran across the road

A B C D

• What can you say about the means of the following two data sets?

• Set 1: 10 12 13 15• Set 2: 10 12 13 15 0

A. The two sets have the same mean.

B. The two sets have different means.

C. It depends on whether you choose to count the zero.

Maths

• How could you increase the temperature of boiling water?

A.Add more heat.

B.Add more water.

C.You can’t increase the temperature of boiling water.

D.Add Salt

Science

MFL - French

• I will go in French

A – J’allerai

B – J’irai

C – J’ai allé

D – Je vais aller

• In which year did World War II begin?A. 1919

B. 1938

C. 1939

D. 1940

E. 1941

Which of the shapes below contains a dotted line that is also a diagonal?

Maths

Hinge Questions

More Examples are available

• Go to the tool kit in the Afl folder - shared area.