Teaching Kids To Think Like Entrepreneurs

According to Forbes, we’re on the cusp of the Fourth Revolution. They predict exponential changes to the way we live, work and relate to one another due to the adoption of cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things and the Internet of Systems. From climate change and overpopulation to the dissipation of finite resources and a fragile global economy, kids today are facing an uncertain future. How do we equip them for the future? We believe that the key lies in preparing them to be Entrepreneurs. Not Entrepreneurs in the sense that they all start a business or create a specific product to sell but that they become like Entrepreneurs who are problem solvers who have a specific mindset and skillset.

I’ve heard it said that the word entrepreneur has its roots in the French language and comes from the word, entreprendre, meaning “someone who undertakes”. This is in effect what entrepreneurs do. They see a problem or challenge as an opportunity and they devise a plan to get things done to bring about change. Not only that, when we think of entrepreneurs, we know that they possess other common traits:

1. They problem solve on the fly.
2. They are passionate about their individual pursuits.
3. They have creative confidence and believe strongly in their personal capacity to effect change.

With this mindset and skillset, why wouldn’t we want to equip our students with opportunities to develop these skills? Imagine if all students possessed these traits as they learned in our classrooms. What would change? How might this help to increase authentic and relevant learning for students? Might it ensure that they are ready to handle the big challenges we know that they will face?

At Future Design School, we’re fortunate to work with thousands of educators and we’re seeing the changes happen and know that the opportunity exists for even greater change. In classrooms throughout North America, educators and students are leveraging entrepreneurship as they investigate issues faced by individuals throughout the world whether they are social, economical or environmental. And they’re not just taking the time to develop greater understanding of the issues but they’re taking an empathetic approach as they delve into creating unique and differentiated solutions that they believe will have a great impact on the world. Students are working to develop their ability to be critical thinkers, effective communicators, intentional creators and successful collaborators.

We want to inspire kids to believe in their personal capacity to change the world. We want to encourage their innate curiosity, give them a platform to build on their ideas, develop their leadership abilities and enable them to learn through their own experimentation. Are you with us?

Here’s how you can get involved!

Join our Certified Entrepreneurship Educator Program. This program offers educators an inside look to business approaches used by some of today’s biggest companies. Designed by one of Canada’s top entrepreneurs, educators will be able to guide students through a meaningful learning experience that provides an in-depth look at the tools and methods used in the business world. One great feature about this program is that at the conclusion, educators will be certified to grant students micro-credentials in Entrepreneurship, which can be added to their portfolios or resumes. In becoming a Certified Entrepreneurship Educator, educators will help students identify obstacles as opportunities to be solved, while developing the aptitudes needed to take innovative ideas and turn them into reality.

Already doing great work around entrepreneurship? Become a featured educator on our blog. We know that there are educators out there who are doing amazing things with their students around entrepreneurship. We want to hear your stories! Consider co-authoring a blog post with us. It’s simple. Complete this form and we’ll get in touch to start writing with you.

Make learning meaningful for your students by helping them to develop the skills needed to tackle big problems through entrepreneurship. What are you waiting for? The time is now!