AMBASSADORS AT WORK
Integrating Entrepreneurial Thinking into all Content AreasAn INVITATION to Teachers: We encourage entrepreneurship teachers at all levels of the lifelong learning model to use EntrepreneurshipWeek USA as an opportunity to introduce entrepreneurship education teaching options to teachers in your system. The following event is primarily designed for your local efforts to build the field of entrepreneurship education for all of today's youth. It is one of 25 events suggested on the Consortium's list of education-related events for supporting EntrepreneurshipWeek USA www.entre-ed.org/E-week.htm
We encourage our Consortium Ambassadors and all teachers to accept this challenge. When your activities are underway please let us know what you are accomplishing, and let your local media know too. Become a Partner by sending us the form at www.entre-ed.org/E-form.htm We want to add your organization to the list of Education-related Partners providing leadership locally to impact on the nation.
Event # 22 Entrepreneurial Discovery Teams - The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education will design an Entrepreneurship Discovery Policy Plan to be shared with all Consortium members and their networks, to expand into all levels of the local school systems. We encourage all Entrepreneurship Ambassadors to initiate this project.LET'S GET STARTED: Ambassadors are encouraged to accept the challenge to be a leader to seek fellow teachers in their school who will focus on the entrepreneurial discovery processes in their courses no matter what the content area. Ambassadors and fellow teachers are encouraged to involve entrepreneurs from their community to be involved in their class projects as advisors or mentors to the teacher and/or the students to ensure relevance of the work. Ambassadors are encouraged to orchestrate a special school-wide "Discovery Event" for EntrepreneurshipWeek USA that could involve all classes in the school. It could be "Idea Day", "Career Day" with only entrepreneurs as speakers, "Power Lunch" with an entrepreneur visiting with interested students during lunch, or every class hosting a local entrepreneur during a specific day or week. THE NFIB YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR FOUNDATION co-sponsors this Discovery Event-"Discovery" relates to the first stage of entrepreneurial thinking that should be integrated in science, math, history, language arts, music, art, foreign languages, and Career and Technical Education. Educators would enlist entrepreneurs to serve on their local school team. The team would seek school board support for the team to implement the discovery policy and provide resources to teachers. (The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation is sponsoring the Entrepreneurial Discovery Team project in order to help all teachers be aware of materials developed to help them no matter what subject they teach.)
Ambassadors are encouraged to refer fellow teachers to the Entrepreneur-in-the-Classroom (EITC) modules developed by the National Federation of Independent Business. Three modules can be found on the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation website, to be used by teachers of any subject area. Module 2 delves into turning an idea into a business which is the heart of the discovery process.
When the teachers need real world connections with the business world, the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation has an answer. Their EITC curriculum is also supported by the Take Time to Teach (T3) mentoring program. It identifies NFIB business owners who are willing to work with their local educators to support the use of the EITC curriculum. It is also possible that teachers would want to approach other community organizations, such as the chamber of commerce, to secure support for their work in promoting an entrepreneurial culture.
Finally, applications are now available for the 2007 Young Entrepreneur Awards. The fifth annual scholarship program for high-school seniors is designed to set teen small-business owners on the path to entrepreneurship. Award recipients attend the university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of their choice with $1,000 in tuition assistance from the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation. One outstanding student receives a $10,000 award, and four regional winners receive $5,000 each. Apply online today! First, be sure to fully read the Young Entrepreneur Award application instructions, and the frequently asked questions, both linked below. Online applications are accepted until Feb. 12, 2007.
ULTIMATE GOAL FOR EXPANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP NATIONWIDE-When the timing is right, the local teachers and community mentors will advance a policy resolution such as the attached, to the board of education to encourage all educators throughout the school system to consider how they can implement entrepreneurial discovery processes in all the classes in the school(s).
As the policy is approved by the board of education and is being implemented the four items of the Discovery Policy Resolution will become the responsibility of all those in the school system and will require key leaders to continue to learn about entrepreneurship and to involve more entrepreneurs as mentors to the school system.
Concept for Implementing Board of Education Entrepreneurship Discovery Policy
- Focus the efforts of all principals, teachers and instructional support staff to examine the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education in order to determine how the discovery process can be integrated into all subject areas so that the students are encouraged to think entrepreneurially as they solve problems, and as they consider career options;
- Reflect during professional development activities about how the entrepreneurial context will assist students to perform to higher levels in the core academic courses;
- Involve community entrepreneurs as mentors to teachers as they seek applications of the academic concepts and skills for the students in their classes;
- Utilize resources of the community to share with students the opportunities to meet needs as entrepreneurs, to include focusing on the contributions of entrepreneurs during EntrepreneurshipWeek USA as well as continuing the dialogue about integrating entrepreneurship concepts into all courses taught in this school system.
Remember: the Consortium has drafted a sample policy statement for you to download and share with educational leaders in your school system. Feel free to adopt or adapt it as you see fit.
http://www.entre-ed.org/discovery policy.htm
For information or to report your "success stories" email: Michael
The Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow are in our Schools Today! Return to EntrepreneurshipWeek USA - Education-related Partners