Introduction to entrepreneurship/IENT101/Syllabus

Session	Dates
Getting started	Independent study before starting the course.
Session 0	Independent study (recommend 2 days)
Session 1	Independent study (recommend 2 days)
Session 2	Independent study (recommend 2 days)
Session 3	Independent study (recommend 2 days)
Session 4	Independent study (recommend 2 days)

Getting started

Course overview

Familiarise yourself with the course site and the course guide

• Dates: Independent study before starting the course.
• Consult these pages for the information you need.
  • About IENT101
    1. Start here
    2. Course guide
• Key activities:
  1. Complete the OERu new participant survey
  2. Complete the 5 things you should do before starting the course

Session 0

Orientation

Establish your personal learning environment (PLE) and declare yourself.

• Dates: Independent study (recommend 2 days)
  
• Learning materials:
  1. Establish a personal learning environment.
• Key activities:
  1. Work through the learning materials for this learning pathway
  2. Post a "Toot" using the course IENT101 hashtag
  3. Create your forums account for IENT101 and complete your profile page
  4. Practice annotating a web page with the IENT101 course code
  5. Create your bookmarks account and search for links using IENT101
  6. Create a learning journal blog for IENT101
  7. Complete the "Declare yourself challenge for IENT101

Session 1

The nature of entrepreneurship

In this learning pathway, we explore some of the key elements of entrepreneurship. How do you define an entrepreneur, and how do you decide on which business ideas to pursue?

• Dates: Independent study (recommend 2 days)
• Key activities:
  1. Work through the learning materials for this learning pathway
  2. Video - Don't make these mistakes (WEnote)
  3. What is an entrepreneur? (Reading, WEnote)
  4. Creativity - Generating business ideas (WEnote, Reading)
  5. Innovative businesses (Resource bank activity, WEnote)
  6. Risk and reward (Web resources (reading), WEnote)
  7. Sharing ideas (Case study, Discussion forum)
  8. Entrepreneur learning challenge
  9. Knowledge test (Quiz)

Session 2

What makes a successful entrepreneur?

In this learning pathway, we explore the characteristics that contribute to the success of entrepreneurs.

• Dates: Independent study (recommend 2 days)
• Key activities:
  1. Work through the learning materials for this learning pathway
  2. Video - Why be an entrepreneur? (WEnote)
  3. Effective entrepreneurs (WEnote, Reading)
  4. Learning from other entrepreneurs (Reading, Video & WEnote, Discussion forum)
  5. Attitudes to failure (Reading, WEnote)
  6. Learning challenge
  7. Knowledge test (Quiz)

Session 3

Entrepreneurs as small business owners

In this learning pathway, we explore aspects of small business ownership.

• Dates: Independent study (recommend 2 days)
• Key activities:
  1. Work through the learning materials for this learning pathway
  2. Video - The challenges of small business ownership (Discussion forum)
  3. Is a small business owner an entrepreneur? (Reading, WEnote)
  4. Advantages and disadvantages to running a small business (Reading, Brainstorm)
  5. Finding advice on running a small business (Video, Resource bank, Learning journal blog)
  6. SWOT analysis for a small business (Reading, Quiz)
  7. Learning challenge
  8. Knowledge test (Quiz)

Session 4

Before starting your own business

In this learning pathway, we look at what an entrepreneur should do before starting a business.

• Dates: Independent study (recommend 2 days)
• Key activities:
  1. Work through the learning materials for this learning pathway
  2. Video - Planning vs. Testing (WEnote)
  3. My business idea (Learning Journal Blog)
  4. Market analysis - useful definitions (Reading, Learning Journal Blog)
  5. Competitive intelligence (Reading, WEnote)
  6. What is market research? (Video, Reading, WEnote)
  7. Market exchanges and partnerships (Reading, Learning Journal Blog)
  8. Due diligence survey (Reading, Learning Journal Blog)
  9. Learning challenge
  10. Knowledge test (Quiz)