During a recent presentation to the Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area District of the Hawaii Department of Education, sponsored by Complex Area Superintendent Ruth Silberstein, principals provided feedback and sentiments on the BizzyB pilot program. This entrepreneurial-based learning application is designed to cultivate and measure “soft skills” among 8th to 12th grade students. Positive comments from the principals included: “builds on real-life business principles,” encourages “critical-thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity,” teaches students “very useful skills” and “relevant and rigorous for students of all ages.” BizzyB facilitates project-based, problem-based and entrepreneurial-based learning. This innovative approach to education – which breaks away from the traditional rote-learning model – is increasingly valued in academia and the workplace.
An Entrepreneurial App for 21st Century Soft Skills
BizzyB features an extensive library of hands-on business adventures that teach positive social values. When students complete project as individuals or teams, they develop leadership, innovation, problem-solving and other thinking and interpersonal abilities. Moreover, BizzyB quantifies soft skill achievements by aggregating mentor feedback and ratings. Mentors – such as alumni, family friends and relatives – easily provide guidance to students by weighing in via mobile devices and computers.
Team Collaboration Model
Students start a BizzyB experience by forming up to five-person teams then select a collaboration project from an online library of innovation challenges. Projects include making a craft product, creating a game, staging a show or building a lemonade stand. Each business adventure ends with students opening and operating an enterprise, even if only for a day. The minimal charge for accessing the BizzyB library is paid in BizCoin that users purchase online. These tokens can also be gifted by individuals, companies and organizations to students, classrooms or entire schools.