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May 02, 2005

SBE: Who's Minding the Store?

Larson, Rick and Real Enterprises, Inc., Who's Minding the Store? A Guide for Educators Working with School-based Enterprises: Activities and Strategies for Creating and Operating Innovative and Productive Learning Experiences, Berkeley, CA: National Center for Research in Vocational Education, June 1995 (MDS-1254).

This guide is intended for use by educators who are working with school-based enterprises or contemplating the establishment of an SBE in their school. It seeks to help schools, students, and teachers develop enterprises that:

  • place students in positions of responsibility for management and operations.
  • provide an opportunity for students to learn entrepreneurial skills, group problem-solving, and effective decisionmaking.
  • encourage creativity and innovation and help students learn a broad range of academic and career-oriented skills.
  • provide an opportunity for students to learn about a number of aspects of the business, not just the specifics of a particular job within that business.
  • operate responsibly from ethical, social, and economic perspectives.
  • promote academic achievement.

National Center for Research in Vocational Education

Notes in the extended...

  • Outline:

    • Preface (Objectives/Audience, How Guide Came About, Methods, REAL, Key Assumptions, A Work in Progress)
    • The Educator's Role
    • Before the Doors Open (tools)
    • After the Paint Dries (tools)
    • References and Additional Resources
    • Appendix

  • John Dewey (1938) on experience and education (ix)

    The belief that all genuine education comes about through experience does not mean that all experiences are genuinely or equally educative.

  • Oakland High SBE ACORN, LA's Food from the Hood (x)

  • REAL - wrote Entrep..Curriculum Guide, describes experiential learning cycle (I-1)
  • David Kolb - FORMAT (Learning styles - input and processing) (I-1)

  • Educator: (I-3)

    • have a plan and clear objectives
    • know your limitations and find allies who can help
    • treat other stakeholders as customers

  • 7 C's: (I-4)

    • Commitment
    • Control
    • Cash
    • Continuity/Closure
    • Community
    • Cooperation
    • Curriculum

  • SBE Steps: (II-2)

    • Clarify goals and objectives for the SBE
    • Build a team
    • Choose a business idea
    • Write a business plan
    • Present the plan

  • Process of brainstorming (feasibility scans of each), and Business plan to present to stakeholders and admin (II-9)

  • Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Responsible, Timed Goals (SMART) (T1-1)
  • Toolkit
    • T1-3, Goal Post activity: What, who, when 2x How
    • T6, SBE idea feasibility scan
    • T7-7, REAL SBE Business Plan
    • T8-1, BAM mini-business plan
    • T8-6, marketing plan
    • T9-7, similar to intern interview
    • T9-2, Presentation of business plans

community and housing development, economic development, education