Developing and Measuring the Youth Entrepreneurial Mindset

Transcription

1 Developing and Measuring the Youth Entrepreneurial Mindset Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit Washington DC. October 7, 2015 Thomas Gold, Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Evaluation

2 The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship NFTE s mission is to provide programs that inspire young people from low-income communities to stay in school, to recognize business opportunities and to plan for successful futures. Our vision is that all young people can have an entrepreneurial mindset that will lead them to great to do great things in life and business. United States Northeast New England New York Metro - New York City - Fairfield Co., CT - Westchester Co., NY Mid-Atlantic Philadelphia Washington, D.C. / Baltimore Midwest Chicago Cleveland St. Louis South Georgia South Carolina South Florida North Texas West Bay Area Fresno Los Angeles 580,000 Students served worldwide International Americas Colombia Mexico United States EMEA Belgium Germany Ireland Israel AIPAC Australia China Singapore 2

3 The NFTE Model: Key elements Experiential curriculum o Learning by doing; project-based; connects learning to the real world Volunteer Support o Volunteers coach students through their business plan, and judge competitions directly supporting students and teachers throughout the program Competitions o Designed to provide excitement, challenge students and reinforce knowledge 3

4 NFTE Experiential activity: Product innovation game Activity Objective: Use entrepreneurial skills, such as creativity, critical thinking and collaboration, to create a new innovative product from limited resources. Directions: 1. Create a totally new product from ONLY the materials given. 2. Be prepared to give a one minute presentation on your new invention that includes the following: o The name of the product o The features and benefits of the product o A profile of its customers (age, gender, interests, etc ) 4

5 The NFTE Model: Delivery methods and programs Classroom-based, in-school programs One or two semesters; NFTE-trained teacher; stand-alone entrepreneurship class or embedded in business, economics or other subjects; elective or required o Owning Your Future: Entrepreneurship program for middle and high schools o Startup Tech: Tech-entrepreneurship program on mobile app creation o Explore: Career exploration through entrepreneurship for middle grades Summer programs o Bizcamp: 2-week program during summer vacation or school breaks o GenTech: tech-entrepreneurship focused on mobile app creation o Startup Summer: summer incubator program for NFE students Virtual o NFTE Venture short course; MakeYourJob Modules integrated in other youth settings o World Series of Innovation 5

6 Entrepreneurial Mindset Index Initiative & Self Direction Flexibility & Adaptability Communication & Collaboration Creativity & Innovation Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Future Orientation Opportunity Recognition Comfort with Risk 6

7 NFTE Impact: Mindset Drives Growth Activation of the Mindset Unlocks the Skills for Success in School AND Life CONFIDENCE LOCUS OF CONTROL 95% of NFTE students agree that the skills they learned will help them in life and business NFTE Entrepreneurship Programs FUTURE FOCUS PUBLIC SPEAKING Success Indicators 22% of NFTE alumni are selfemployed 88% of NFTE alumni are employed beyond graduation 80% are confident in starting their own businesses LIFE SKILLS NFTE students demonstrate a strong orientation toward college and an interest in pursuing careers BUSINESS SKILLS 7

8 Teaching Entrepreneurial Mindset Youth Entrepreneurial Mindset Index CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION The ability to think of ideas and create solutions to problems without clearly defined structures. What Does It Look Like? How Is It Facilitated? How Is It Expressed? Creators and innovators conceive of unique ideas and build things that add value to the lives of others. Creative and innovative individuals: Identify new and innovative solutions to problems Think of alternatives when faced with scarce resources Navigate ambiguity in a situation Are comfortable thinking of solutions without boundaries NFTE teaches Creativity and Innovation through the concept of IDEATION: Engage students in choice and thought exercises that reduce the barriers to creativity Model how creativity and innovation can be expressed in many ways (not just the arts). Require students to create solutions to a problem with limited resources and time. Teaching tools include: Design Thinking: Break down problems into components and redesign visual/verbal/written solutions Design Studios: Work in groups to physically design solution to problem Mind Maps: Begin with one issue and create multiple pathways to solutions Copyright NFTE Do Not Use Without Permission. Students who are creative and innovative: Engage in efforts to come up with new problems and solutions Share new ideas Question conventional wisdom Take intellectual risks Actively seek resources to pursue innovative ideas Test out their ideas with the resources they have Are willing to explore

9 Mindset Conference 9

10 Contact information Thomas Gold, Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Evaluation Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (917)

11 Entrepreneurship education and Mindset Experimental study of a youth entrepreneurship program in the Netherlands found an increase in self-efficacy, need for achievement, risk taking propensity and problem solving skills in students as young as 11 and 12 years old Huber et al European study found that students who attended entrepreneurship programs were more likely to display an entrepreneurial mindset -- analytical, motivated, creative and self-confident with a greater propensity to take risks European Commission