News - 3E-Learning at the USASBE conference 2009 Winners
January 25, 2009

3E Learning Competition Smashing Success!

On January 10, 2009, in a room packed to standing-room only, the finalists of the 3E Learning Innovative Entrepreneurial Ideas Competition gathered to present their ideas to educators from across the U.S. Schools from D.C. to California were represented. Several attendees bragged about how many 3E sessions they had attended previously, attesting to the quality of ideas of previous years and their expectations for this year. The finalist ideas didn’t disappoint.

The ideas presented ranged from an in-class networking event to develop future entrepreneurs’ skills at assessing potential investors to a series of team projects with teams competing to show they are the best at some entrepreneurial task.

The third place idea was the $10 business, created by Dr. Craig Armstrong of the University of Alabama, where each student has $10 to found a business. Even with such a limited budget, the ideas for businesses range from the traditional to highly unusual. The most profitable business in Dr. Armstrong’s class earned over $2,200 making framed displays and magnets out of used wine corks. However, most every student is very profitable; the average profit for a business was $200!

In second place was the Entrepreneur Fast-Pitch, by Dr. Richard Sudek from Claremont Graduate University. In this activity, students read the transcripts of 60 second pitches by real-life entrepreneurs and evaluate which they found the best. They then watch the pitches given by the entrepreneurs, rating them again. The similarities and discrepancies create the foundational basis for in-class discussion about communication and passions for a business idea.

The grand prize winner of the 3E Learning Competition was Dr. Steven Gedeon of Ryerson University with a fascinating approach to negotiations. Students are given a list of negotiation goals for either selling a company or setting a CEO compensation package. The students receive an overview of negotiation prior to being thrust into their discussions. Dr. Gedeon noted that many of his students find the exercise reveals areas of weakness in their negotiation skills, no matter how strong they are upon entering the class.

If you want more information about this year’s finalist ideas, or access to any of the dozens of other ideas submitted to 3E over the years, go to www.3e-learning.org. All ideas are posted, along with references, materials you can adopt for your class, and student feedback.

News - 3E-Learning at the USASBE conference 2009.

3E Learning has just announced the opening of its 3rd annual 3E Ideas Competition. The competition is an opportunity for educators to share their most innovative ideas for teaching students about entrepreneurship, small business management, new venture creation, and their related skills. On October 24, educators can go to www.3E-learning.org to submit their ideas and compete for $850 in prizes. The competition will stay open for one month before closing. The ideas will be evaluated by a panel of entrepreneurship experts, and the top ten ideas will be announce at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) conference in Anaheim, CA this January. The presentation of ideas is always well received and attended.

News - 3E-Learning at the USASBE conference 2008.

On January 20, eight professors of entrepreneurship from universities across North America received awards for their innovative methods of teaching entrepreneurship education using classroom experiential exercises. These eight excellent educators met with loud applause from a large contingent of educators, practitioners, businessmen, and students at the U.S. Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) in Orlando, Florida.

“It was amazing!” enthused one attendant. “I’ve never seen so much energy from an audience over teaching ideas. And after each presenter, they just got even more excited!”

The first place prize went to Dr. Sherrie Human at Xavier University for her exercise, “Entrepreneurial Ethics: Is It Posturing or Is It Lying?” Her idea begins with a board-based exercise in which students experience the complexities of ethical decision making in entrepreneurial organizations, including differences in perceptions on what is considered posturing or "just doing business" versus what is lying. The exercise incorporates readings and a scenario-based questionnaire prior to the exercise and an in-class debriefing, concept development, and discussion afterwards. This is followed by entrepreneur interviews to solidify the experience and lessons the students just had.

Another exciting idea came from Dr. Reg Litz from the University of Manitoba called “Kitty Hawk in the Classroom.” For this exercise, students must design a new paper aircraft capable of both flying further and staying aloft longer than any created by their classmates. Students must 'sell' their aircraft design to their fellow classmates. Each student then ‘invests’ in a design by voting for the design they believe will fly further and/or stay aloft longer than any other. The students then compete in a 'fly-off.' The one catch is that students much incorporate a dollar worth of coins into their designs. The exercise concludes with by connecting what the students did with the nature of creative and entrepreneurial endeavors.

If you want more detail on these and other exciting exercises relating to entrepreneurship, small business, and new venture creation, visit 3E idea catalog. If you have ideas you wish to submit, 3E Learning has opened its second round of the competition. Submissions are due no later than May 1, 2007. Please visit  http://www.3e-learning.org/about.asp to learn more.

Article written by: David Tomczyk, Ph.D student at the George Washington University.