The 4 intervention levers

Education Through Entrepreneurial Spirit, along with its levers of awareness, experimentation, acknowledgement and self-affirmation, is an excellent pedagogical approach that has a significant impact on student development by contributing to entrepreneurial culture, student perseverance and educational success, personal satisfaction and fulfillment, and career choice. Teaching practices observed over the past 20 years have made it possible to identify 4 intervention levers, along with their specific impacts which, when combined, extend their reach.

Lever 1: Awareness | “The student sees examples of entrepreneurship.”
Lever 2: Experimentation | “The student carries out an entrepreneurial project.”
Lever 3: Acknowledgement | “The student’s involvement is highlighted.”
Lever 4: Self-affirmation | “The student affirms his or her entrepreneurial qualities.”

“The student sees examples of entrepreneurship.”

Offering awareness-raising activities to students enables them to become familiar with entrepreneurship. Awareness contributes to the students’ entrepreneurial culture and translates into a greater tolerance for risk, openness to new things, awareness of the importance of buying locally, understanding of the complexity of the manufacture of goods, appreciation of human power in all forms of entrepreneurship, and words of encouragement to the project initiators around them.

Visit to a business (e.g. a local business)
Presentation by an entrepreneur (e.g. Semaine des entrepreneurs à l’école)
Conversation with an entrepreneur using web-based tools
Leading of awareness-raising activities (e.g. on entrepreneurial qualities)
Oral presentation on a typical local business
Debate on the corporate values that could be chosen by businesses and their clients
Etc.

An awareness-raising activity held in the fall can be a great way to inspire students to initiate a project and become involved in entrepreneurship!
A theme, entrepreneur or sector close to the students’ community will pique their interest and help to develop their sense of belonging.

“The student carries out an entrepreneurial project.”

Entrepreneurial experimentation means being at the heart of all actions and decisions. It is a process in which learning goes hand in hand with effort and fun. Entrepreneurial experimentation is a powerful tool for success. In addition to placing learning in context (what it’s for), experimentation helps to build identity (discover who I am), develop a feeling of competence (what I’m good at), provide career guidance (what I like to do) and create a sense of belonging (“my” class, school, community).

Carry out an entrepreneurial project
Looking for ideas for entrepreneurial projects? Visit Entreprendre c'est apprendre (available in French only)
Etc.

Encouraging students to identify a need and a solution before the holidays makes it easier to plan the steps of the entrepreneurial project and to integrate them into the school calendar.
Entrepreneurial experimentation is a valued pedagogical approach to integrate the subjects and competencies of the Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Education programs of study.

“The student’s involvement is highlighted.”

Acknowledgement activities highlight the initiatives that were carried out. Acknowledgement helps students to increase their levels of satisfaction, confidence and self-esteem by having their accomplishments recognized by others (family, peers, community). In addition to contributing to a vibrant school environment and inspiring other students to try their hand at entrepreneurship, third-party acknowledgement strengthens the relevance of the students’ efforts and enables them to become aware of their own path.

Post an article or video presenting the entrepreneurial project (on the school or school board's website or Facebook page)
Share photos of the entrepreneurial project on the school's wall of fame, online, etc.
Make an announcement over the intercom to make others aware of the entrepreneurial project
Invite a journalist to a student activity
Register the project for the OSEntreprendre Challenge
Take part of La grande journée des petits entrepreneurs in June
Present a certificate/recognition tool in front of the student's peers (in class, at the end-of-year celebration, etc.)
Etc.

Take photos–Invite the parents–And why not the local MNAs!
Are you producing an article or a video to present the entrepreneurial project? Showcase students sharing their entrepreneurial experience and reach the Self-affirmation lever in one fell swoop! Fill two needs with one deed!

“The student affirms his or her entrepreneurial qualities.”

By developing collaborative reflexes, increased agility, and the ability to innovate and become involved in order to be part of the solution, Education Through Entrepreneurial Spirit equips students to better handle today’s realities. For some, this will be an opportunity to discover their entrepreneurial identity (“Entrepreneurship, I’m Up for the Challenge!”), or to confirm their career aspirations based on a field of interest (“I want to run my own farming business”). Fostering these opportunities for self-affirmation helps people to recognize each other and take pride in themselves. The affirmation of entrepreneurial identity is a powerful source of both personal and institutional pride.

Present tools related to a sense of belonging or identity, to enable students to demonstrate their entrepreneurial values (e.g. badges, t-shirt, etc.)
Designate a space for visibility in the school, to put a spotlight on entrepreneurial projects (e.g. hall of fame, wall of fame, etc.)
Post a video presenting the entrepreneurial project in which students share their entrepreneurial experience (on the school or school board’s website or Facebook page)
Take part of La grande journée des petits entrepreneurs in June
Have the students complete a post-project self-evaluation to help them put together their entrepreneurial profile
Establish Entrepreneurs Clubs
Set up discussion groups for students who carry out entrepreneurial projects
Have the school certified in entrepreneurship
Etc.

Designate an “entrepreneurship” room in the school (permanent space)
Encourage entrepreneurial diversity by also identifying student initiatives in sports, the arts, etc.
Showcase former students of the school

The 4 intervention levers