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- TN VEI Director, Cindy Boyd
- boydc@rcs.k12.tn.us
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- A Virtual Enterprise is a simulated business that is set up and run by
students to prepare them for working in a real business environment.
With the guidance of a teacher ("facilitator") and real-world
business partners, the students determine the nature of their business,
its products and services, its management and structure, and engage in
the daily operations of running a business. Emphasis is placed on using
current business software, communications, and the Internet for business
transactions.
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- More and more classroom teachers have found ways to bring the business
world to their students through programs such as the Stock Market Game
and Junior Achievement. These programs teach entrepreneurship and
practical skills that are essential to career readiness while promoting
healthy competition to motivate students. The Virtual Enterprise Program
follows in the footsteps of these other efforts, and has the added
advantage of linking students in a global business network. This
simulation takes the teacher outside of the traditional instructional
paradigm and then places the students on the front lines of the business
world.
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- As the network of student-run businesses in the United States continues
to grow, virtual enterprises are linking together in regional, national
and global networks so that the firms have each other as
trading/business partners. Such a network permits standardization and
coordination of activities among all firms within a city, state, or
country.
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- Virtual Enterprise began in Europe after WWII, though the idea dates
back to apprenticeship concepts of the 17th century. There are now over
3,000 Practice Firms (as they are called outside the USA) in Europe,
Canada, Australia, Asia, and Latin America.
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- In 1994 and 1995, representatives from the New York City Board of
Education first observed the success of the program on a visit to
schools in Vienna, Austria. They decided to pioneer the concept in the
United States. The first Virtual Enterprise program in the United States
was implemented in seven New York City high schools in September 1996.
Currently, there are over 350 practice firms operating in the United
States at secondary and post-secondary levels.
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- The following information is a summary of activities for the Virtual
Enterprise International™ program at Blackman High School, and the
Tennessee expansion.
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- The Rutherford County School District and Blackman High School in
partnership with the TN Department of Education established the
Tennessee Virtual Enterprise International™ in 2005-2006. Blackman High
School is the location of the Virtual Enterprise Center (VEC) for the
State of Tennessee. This center acts as a central office (and clearing
house) for the Tennessee Network and serves as a link to other national
and international firms
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- For teachers/facilitators, the center offers annual training and staff
development activities, curriculum resources and consulting. For
students, the center offers electronic banking and mail services, web
page links, company resources, and network coordination of activities,
workshops, teleconferences, and competitions.
- For more information contact the TN VEI Director, Cindy Boyd at boydc@rcs.k12.tn.us.
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- Since all schools are basically the training ground for the future's
workforce, the Virtual Enterprise Program is leading the way in
workforce preparation. As the
business world constantly changes, the business education world must
also change to meet the needs of industry. A simulated working
environment, equipped with the latest business technology, will allow
students and teachers to enter the virtual business world in the pursuit
of global business skills through project based instruction. When
Virtual Enterprise students graduate and enter their prospective career
path, they bring with them a core of skills founded in the Business
Education Career Path.
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- Virtual Enterprise students understand the implications of global
changes and the role of the United States as a major player in the
international system. Change is the constant in international,
political, social, and economic systems; and Virtual Enterprise is
comfortable in this changing world. The goal of every Virtual Enterprise
is to combine the motivation to succeed in a chosen field with the
skills necessary to manage career advancement. We believe that well
prepared, highly motivated Virtual Enterprise students are among the
world's best resources for the new century.
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- The Tennessee Virtual Enterprise serves a wide range of student
abilities and interests. One strength of the program is its flexible
nature. The simulation model is utilized to serve diverse student
populations ranging from students in high school to community college
students working on a business degree. Some school sites allow open
entry, while other sites require prior course work to enroll in the
Virtual Enterprise Program.
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- Regardless of individual models, the Virtual Enterprise Program's goal
is to prepare students for the world of work. The guiding curriculum
objectives that should be used by each program are outlined. Since the
Virtual Enterprise Programs vary significantly, school site teachers and
administrators must tailor their desired program outcomes according to
their uniqueness
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- 2003: First Virtual Enterprise
International™ program at Blackman High School, Murfreesboro, TN.
- 2005-06 school year: Sixteen
schools throughout TN participated in the Virtual Enterprise
International™ program.
- 2006-07 school year: Thirty seven
additional programs participated in VEI across the state of TN.
- Additional schools will be added pending summer training
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- Capstone course for Academy of Business at Blackman High School
- To increase the number of Business Technology concentrators at Blackman
HS
- Integration of English, Math, and CTE courses
- Improvement of student learning by helping raise the level of oral and
written communication and math skills
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- Improvement in attendance of upper classmen and make the senior year
count
- Improvement of the success rate of students in both placement and
retention in post-secondary education and or employment
- To increase the enrollment of high achieving student leaders in career
and technical courses
- To increase involvement of the business community in the classroom
experience
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- Continuation of expansion of the TN VEI network state wide
- Student workshop for all VE students statewide: October, 2007
- Teachers Retreat: Curriculum revision
- Regional Business Plan Competition: January, 2008
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- Spring Trade Fairs in various states with plans for a TN trade fair in
the future
- New teacher training sessions
- Current teacher workshops held in East, West, and Middle TN
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- Pre and Post Test: Given at all schools in TN in the school year
2005-2006 that were teaching the VE program. 2006-2007 data is incomplete at this
time. Data below compares Blackman
and Lawrence County High School for school year 2005-06. (rural and urban)
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- Blackman High School (Urban): An increase of 58% to 89% on basic
business and communication knowledge.
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- Lawrence County High School (Rural)
An increase of 40% to 78% on basic business and communication
knowledge.
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- Attendance data is for the school year just completed, 2006-2007.
- This data was compiled from 23 responses out of the 35 (37 firms)
schools in the TN Network.
- Also shown is New York City data.
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- Tennessee Virtual Enterprise students were asked to complete an exit
questionnaire in the 2006-2007 year. The following tables display this
Data is below:
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- Tech Prep/Lawrence County High School
- CATI/Blackman High School
- Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation/Blackman High School
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- Tennessee Board of Education
- Tennessee Small Business Development Center
- Local Chambers of Commerce throughout the state
- Business Partners throughout the state
- Tennessee Business Roundtable
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Notes
