PRACTICUM CLASS DESCRIPTION: ENTREPRENEURSHIP

My practicum class is Entrepreneurship.  My master teacher does an outstanding presentation in the initial course overview and welcome post. She presents the course as a journey  and an adventure and offers multiple definitions and explanations of the concept.

 “Entrepreneurship is the process of identifying, developing, and bringing a vision to life. The vision may be an innovative idea, an opportunity, or simply a better way to do something. The end result of this process is the creation of a new venture, formed under conditions of risk and considerable uncertainty.”

And In her own words, as a further explanation, 

“To become an entrepreneur, then, means that we identify an opportunity and then organize and mobilize our resources to create an organization that produces and/or markets the product or service. And all of these steps are taken with the foreknowledge that the there is a lot of risk involved. For most small businesses, success is equated with planning. The greater the amount … of<planning>, the greater the probability of success and, therefore, the less risk of failure. For this course, the process of learning about entrepreneurship will focus on identifying an idea or opportunity and then developing a plan for the start-up and operation of the resulting business. Preparation of a business plan is the end product for this course…” A clear direction and proposed outcome that then becomes the primary goal of the coursework. The level of detail is appropriate and offers significant insight in order to develop realistic student expectations.

“THE HOOK” is inventive, attention grabbing and speaks for itself:

“Are you interested in starting your own business, or in being your own boss? Do you want to explore what’s involved in being a successful business owner, or do you have a really great business idea? Are you looking for the secret to success in life? Whatever your reasons are for signing up for this course, you will not be disappointed. So, “get in, sit down, hang on”, and prepare for a great adventure, as we explore the world of entrepreneurship!

The learning-centered approach is illustrated through a detailed outline of steps involved in constructing a business plan;

“The road to success is always under construction” is an adage that fairly accurately describes both the process of building a business and the plan for this course. In this entrepreneurship process we can roughly equate building a business with constructing a place of business. In order to be successful, both types of projects must:

• • • begin with a unique idea
    • develop a detailed plan
    • lay a solid foundation
    • build from the ground up
    • incorporate all essential elements, and
    • consider and adjust plans for any risks

And support for the self-reliant learner, is also prepared and presented effectively;

“To be successful at building the plan for your business you need a set of tools:

• • reading, writing and computer skills,
  • ability to stick to a task until it is completed,
  • organization skills,
  • creativity and cooperation skills,
  • ambition,
  • business ingenuity,
  • and any other talents and skills you possess.

Through application of these tools you will learn how to turn your idea into a solid business plan that may ultimately lead to a successful business.”

With the detailed presentation and organization of the course expectations , a detailed syllabus, pre-planned assignments and lessons with pre-determined due dates , a motivated student can easily navigate the terms of the course. This allows for an online learner to develop and perfect time management skills and take ownership of their learning. This independence in the online environment definitely contributes to a self-reliant learner.