Funding sponsored by:
www.qad.com
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Project Description: Using technology, Microsoft Office, and acquired business skills, students become business entrepreneurs by developing their own product and apply various marketing techniques to promote their product. By becoming entrepreneurs, students will reinforce Microsoft Office skills by creating a comprehensive business plan to present to members of the community. Students will study the techniques from the textbook, The Teen Entrepreneur, which provides simulation lessons for them. After developing their product, students will examine marketing techniques to help promote their product and come up with a 1-minute video commercial. As a final project, students will participate in a Venture Capital competition, where they will pitch their ideas to a group of business people, who will determine which idea deserves funding.
How it works: After researching various entrepreneurs and their products, students will participate in The Teen Entrepreneur simulation, where they will develop their own product. Guest speakers from the business world will come in and speak to the students about the entrepreneurial spirit. Through Moodle, where students will get their on-line assignments and through the class website using Joomla, students will participate in group discussions and plot strategies for using e-marketing techniques. Students will develop their own business plan and marketing plan and determine how much money their business will cost to start. Students will then be shown episodes of The Apprentice and Shark Tank, which will show them what the real business world is like. Finally, students will then participate in a Venture Capital competition, where they will pitch their ideas to a group of business people, who will determine which idea deserves funding. Students will use Microsoft W
ord to create the business plan, business cards, advertisements and brochures and Microsoft Excel to create financial statements. In addition, students will use Microsoft PowerPoint for their presentation. Instead of using Microsoft Access, students will use Sugar CRM, which allows them to maintain their records and contacts on-line.
Assessment: Along with on-line tests to check for comprehension, students will receive rubrics for their business plan, marketing plan, and oral presentation. Students will also participate in pitching their ideas to a group of business people and receive feedback.
Standards: Professional Sales and Marketing: Language Arts: Informational text, main idea, supporting details, incorporating technology, persuasive essay, listening, speaking
Communications: oral, written, multimedia presentation
Estimated Number of Class Periods for Students To Complete Unit: 10 Class Periods
What you need: Students will use video cameras and movie editing software (i-Movie),Adobe Photoshop Elements, Garage Band.
Software or Materials Used:Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) or iWork (KeyNote, Number, Pages)
The Teen Entrepreneur Textbook (simulation)
Moodle online learning
Joomla interactive class website/social networking
SugarCRM client management online software
Internet connection
Computer Lab
Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks
IPhoto, Adobe Premiere, Final Cut
Color printer (inkjet or laser)
Keywords: Entrepreneur
Business
Business Plan
Marketing Plan
Economics
Ethics
Sales
Product, Promotion, Placement
Profit
Marginal Cost and Marginal Benefits
Want-Satisfaction
Supply and Demand
The Students: This unit is designed for high school students interested in business. Some teachers can use this as individual or group projects for students. It s interesting because it s not always the high achieving academic students who rise to the top, but rather, those who have an entrepreneurial spirit. In groups, it s important to note that high achieving academic students may have a tendency to take on the whole project by themselves, which is not practical in the business world. Their time is at a premium and so they are hiring others who can be an extension of themselves, but it s important for them to communicate clearly and get others involved.
Overall Value: Students are becoming highly skilled in technology, particularly with iPhones, text messaging, Facebook, etc. They are used to being bombarded with mixed messages aimed at their target market. They are also used to sometimes focus on the textbook and not on showing initiative and out of the box thinking. This unit gives them the opportunity to use their creativity, skill, and imagination to produce a product that people want to buy and present it in front of a group of people as if they were in a real world situation asking for funds.
Subject Area: Business, English
Grade Levels: Grades 9 - 12
Tips for the Teacher: I have been working with the ROP Program at Dos Pueblos High School for the past 4 years and have taught Virtual Enterprise for the past 2 years. Until this time, I have worked in various capacities as technology coordinators and in the classroom as an English teacher for the past 25 years.
