DEVELOPED BY A SPECIALIST IN BUSINESS AND OFFICE EDUCATION, THIS 6- TO 10-CLASS PERIOD UNIT IS FOR USE IN A HIGH SCHOOL BUSINESS EDUCATION COURSE. THE TEACHING OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES, THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS, AND THE OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IMPORTANT IN AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE. SUGGESTED CONTENT, TEACHING-LEARNING ACTIVITIES, AND SUGGESTED REFERENCES ARE GIVEN FOR THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS -- (1) UNDERSTANDING WHAT AUTOMATION IS AND HOW IT INFLUENCES OUR DAILY LIVES, (2) TRACING THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOMATION AND DATA PROCESSING, (3) UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE (ITS INFLUENCE ON JOB LIFE AND WORKER EMPLOYABILITY), (4) BECOMING AWARE OF THE JOBS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO AUTOMATION, AND (5) UNDERSTANDING THE BASIS OF THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER AND PUNCHED-CARD EQUIPMENT. (PS)