Entrepreneurship 100 Syllabus

Course Syllabus: EntrepreneurshipSyllabus.docx

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Course Description: 

The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program™ is an experiential problem-based learning program designed to inspire, inform and involve participants in the fundamental aspects of an entrepreneurial mindset and the unlimited opportunities it can provide. Designed for rigor and relevance, the program provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and implementing an entrepreneurial mindset, regardless of one’s chosen path. The Facilitator Manual is designed to help you and your students get the most out of their entrepreneurial learning experience. Please remember, this is a guide. As a facilitator, you bring valuable knowledge and experience to the classroom and you know your students best. We encourage you to adjust the guidelines and delivery schedule as needed for your particular audience.

Defining Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship can empower ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. In today’s world, it is a skill that every student needs, regardless of their chosen path. Yet, the entrepreneurial process is still not well understood and therefore not easy to define. Here we will simply define entrepreneurship as the Opportunity Discovery Process. It is a search process whereby the participant is encouraged to identify and solve problems in realworld, ambiguous and resource-constrained circumstances; this is a process that will develop entrepreneurial skills. The Opportunity Discovery Process is an iterative, experimental process that can empower anyone to succeed. It does not require the invention of new technologies or a computer science degree. It does not require years of industry experience, in-depth planning and market research. Nor does it require access to venture capital investors or an Ivy League MBA. Entrepreneurship is a discovery process that requires interaction, observation, experimentation and adaptation. It is a student-centric process that requires curiosity and creativity, critical thinking and effective problem solving, communication, collaboration and teamwork - skills that anyone can apply. 

What is a Mindset?

A mindset is a mental model - a deeply ingrained set of beliefs and assumptions that influence our decisions and our behavior. Very often we are not aware of our mindset and the effect it has on the decisions we make and ultimately, the outcome of our lives. And, when it comes to entrepreneurship, there is no proven formula that will guarantee success, yet there is a fundamental logic - a mindset - that guides the decisions that enable entrepreneurs to succeed. For the purpose of this program, we will define the term “entrepreneurial mindset” as the underlying beliefs and assumptions that drive the behavior that enables entrepreneurs to succeed. At the core of an entrepreneurial mindset is the ability to discover problem-solving opportunities without special talents, access to abundant venture capital or creating breakthrough technology. This mindset ignites the process of searching for the intersection of one’s interests and abilities with the needs of our fellow human-beings. It is a mindset cultivated through an experimental process that requires curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and communication. It is also important to remember that not everyone needs to start a business to benefit from an entrepreneurial mindset. Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, and entrepreneurial thinking can be applied to a variety of circumstances from non-profit and social ventures to workforce development and educational success.

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