STEAM-focused Entrepreneurial Education

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Teachers face increased pressure to achieve higher standardized test scores with fewer resources. This is particularly true in low-to-moderate income schools, where underserved students need curricula that inspire, build self-confidence and help them envision successful futures. Our education system is failing to adequately prepare students for the modern global economy, with high dropout rates, significant educational disparities among socioeconomic groups, and lagging performance in mathematics, science, and reading compared to other industrialized countries. Research indicates that students dropout of high school due to boredom (69%), lack of real-life relevance (81%) and insufficient early preparation (45%). When asked how schools could help them stay, 81% requested more real-world learning and a stronger connection to future job prospects.

BizWorld would target 200 educators of 4th, 5th and 6th-grade students in formal and informal settings. Through comprehensive training, educators will be equipped to inspire their students to think like entrepreneurs. BizWorldPRO and Id8 offer a turnkey, fully guided, STEAM-based curriculum complemented by a suite of digital tools, making it easier than ever to introduce entrepreneurship into the classroom using STEAM concepts such as: prototyping, trial/error, budgeting, engineering design process, technology integration, track finances, role-playing, public speaking, assembly line, all in a methodological way. BizWorldPRO and Id8 use a blended-learning toolkit designed to teach our project-based entrepreneurship program. Both programs teach children the basics of entrepreneurship, business and finance. These project-based learning programs allow students to learn business basics in a real-world scenario. Working in teams, students start, fund and run their own companies, creating products from simple craft materials or digital products. The BizWorld currency helps students gain financial knowledge as they spend, save, get loans and other financing to support their businesses. During the BizWorld experience, students have multiple opportunities to practice leadership, teamwork, and decision-making while honing their art, math and communication skills. Bizworld programs have a track record of equipping students with transferable skills in the immediate future.

We aim to have BizWorldPRO and Id8 part of the curriculum for every school district in LA County. If awarded this grant, we can start by training 200 educators in schools, expanded learning environments and youth-serving programs focusing on elementary and middle school students. By training educators, we would impact about 5,200 students. The online training will provide participant educators with the time and support to collaborate and strategize on implementing the programs in various settings. By making the training engaging, accessible, and fun, educators are encouraged to attend and enhance their teaching skills. This is sometimes a rare opportunity for teachers - especially in underserved school districts and non-profit organizations.
BizWorldPRO and Id8 equip students with life skills, including financial literacy, flexibility, initiative, social skills, productivity, and leadership. Educators will help students connect what they learn in the classroom to the real world.

​​This is an existing program that we want to bring to LA County. We administrate pre and post-program assessments to measure the success of the learning in the classroom. We are currently working on a research program using our Draper Innovation Index tool to understand how an entrepreneurial mindset impacts youth's engagement in learning and ability to recognize suitable career paths. For us, the success of this program would be teachers choosing to teach BizWorld programs after the grant period is over. Our goal would be for students to complete the BizWorld pathway and see students build upon their entrepreneurial skills and continue to engage in STEAM-based programming that encourages their creativity and SEL. We would also look at expanding BizWorld programming to other schools in LA County.