Virginia Tech Center for Economic Education
Jan 27, 2025 - May 02, 2025
12:00 am
Grade Level: High School, Middle School, Post-high School
Potential Recertification Credits: 55
INSTITUTE BACKGROUND
The Innovation and Gig Economy requires students to graduate with an entrepreneurial mindset (opportunity recognition, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, innovation, initiative, collaboration, etc.) even if they do not start their own business. 40% of Americans have a side hustle and nearly 50% of today’s youth say they intend to start their own business someday. Entrepreneurial skills are an increasingly essential part of workforce development and overlap with the workplace readiness skills employers say they want in new hires in a rapidly changing workplace. Communities also thrive when its members are empowered to become change agents by offering business-centered solutions to unmet community needs.
Moreover, entrepreneurial skills are transferable life skills that are real game-changers for disenfranchised youth living in impoverished areas because they develop intrinsic motivation, growth mindset, resourcefulness, adaptability, resiliency, calculated risk-taking, and agency—to name a few. Even starting simple side hustles requiring minimal start-up costs to earn additional income offers freedom, hope, and empowerment via more personally fulfilling careers while capitalizing on and affirming existing skills and talents.
Highly adaptable and multidisciplinary, entrepreneurship knowledge, skills, and mindsets seamlessly integrate across grades, core academic subjects, and CTE courses so students have the option to own their own business in any career pathway or become a valuable intrapreneurial employee of someone else’s business. These skills are also correlated to higher rates of college enrollment, higher earnings, and job satisfaction. Additionally, using entrepreneurship as a real-world instructional context optimizes student engagement and motivation by unleashing students’ potential to pursue their own unique interests, hobbies, and passions in the classroom.
INSTITUTE DESCRIPTION
Using experiential learning and a field-tested curriculum, Institute participants simultaneously learn basic entrepreneurship content and instructional best-practices by reviewing 400+ classroom-ready resources (news articles, videos, podcasts, infographics, textbooks, lessons, curricula, PPT slides, test banks, etc.) and completing assignments that they can turnaround and use with their students with little to no further preparation. Easily customizable, the Institute content is extremely flexible and accessible to middle and high school students using inquiry, performance, and project-based learning objectives, including service learning which is essentially social and environmental entrepreneurship.
Online modules are self-paced and live Zoom classes feature introductions to supportive community partners, grassroots entrepreneurs who share “lessons learned” (including high school student-entrepreneurs!), and breakout groups for statewide networking, collaboration, resource sharing, and lesson planning. Practical module assignments result in a collection of co-created lessons or other projects that further professional goals (Part A) and a business plan first draft (Part B) to inspire creative strategies for high quality education and self/employment outcomes. Entrepreneurship Educator Certification, Curriculum, 400+ Instructional Resources, Certificate of Completion, and Digital Badge included. Optional 3-hours of undergraduate or graduate credit available.
The Online Entrepreneurship Institute for Middle & High School Teachers is aligned with the Virginia Board of Education approved U.S. Entrepreneurship Certification Examination, equipping teachers with the content knowledge, instructional strategies, curriculum, and resources needed to prepare high school students to pass the exam. Details and free exam resources available at https://www.cteresource.org/resources/credentials/us-entrepreneurship-certification-examination.
PART A: Entrepreneurial Mindset
Jan 27 – Mar 7, 2025
25 Hours of Professional Development (5 Weeks)
5 Zoom Classes on Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00pm ET
Feb 4, 11, 18, 25, Mar 4*
TOPICS: Types of Entrepreneurship, Workplace Intrapreneurship, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Entrepreneur Self-Assessment, Problem-Solving & Research, Entrepreneurial Pathways, Business Opportunity Recognition, Innovation & Design Thinking, and Lean Canvas & Lean Startup
BREAKS Mar 10-14 and Apr 14-25
PART B: Business Plan
Mar 17 – May 2, 2025
30 Hours of Professional Development (5 Weeks)
5 Zoom Classes on Tuesdays (except Apr 28) from 7:00-9:00pm ET
Mar 18, 25, Apr 1, 8, 28*
TOPICS: Business Plan, Competitive Analysis, Marketing & Branding, Operations & Resources, Management & Networking, Start-up Costs & Funding Sources, Accounting & Financial Statements, Business Structures & Taxes, Risk Mitigation, and Elevator Pitch
*Class recordings also available.
Fee: NO CHARGE
Additional Information:
Institute details and syllabus will be emailed to registered participants one week before Part A starts.
Teachers have the option to complete the Institute for 3-hours of university undergraduate or graduate credit for $135. Details will be shared during the first live Zoom class.
As per VDOE licensure regulations, teachers who earn 3-hours of university undergraduate or graduate credit are awarded 90 hours toward recertification with the approval of their supervisor.
Instructor: Dr. Cheryl Ayers
Contact Person:
Dr. Cheryl Ayers
Center for Economic Education
Virginia Tech
cheryl42@vt.edu
OFFERED BY:
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