TENNESSEE VIRTUAL ENTERPIRSE INTERNATIONAL

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TENNESSEE VIRTUAL ENTERPIRSE INTERNATIONAL

• TN VEI Director, Cindy Boyd
• boydc_at_rcs.k12.tn.us

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Program Description

• 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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History of the Program

• 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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VE Comes to America

• 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 Tennessee Beginning

• 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_at_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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. Current Status

• 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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Eight Good Reasons for the Initial
Implementation of the Program
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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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Future Plans

• 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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Future Plans (contd)

• 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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Summary Data Collected

• 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

• 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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Exit Questionnaire Responses

• 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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Grants Received

• Tech Prep/Lawrence County High School
• CATI/Blackman High School
• Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation/Blackman
  High School

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Endorsements

• Tennessee Board of Education
• Tennessee Small Business Development Center
• Local Chambers of Commerce throughout the state
• Business Partners throughout the state
• Tennessee Business Roundtable