IDEAS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Content

Entrepreneurial people
Entrepreneurial people are very important for society, business, formal education, and many other fields. Why? Because they show initiative, have the necessary courage, make decisions, and show responsibility.
Entrepreneurial types see opportunities and don't like to keep things the way they used to be when that doesn't work.
They draw their own plan and act accordingly.
Are well informed about relevant developments in the environment and use this knowledge effectively.
Has an eye for the effects of (own) decision-making.
Wants to continuously get the best out of him/herself and their projects and initiatives.
Can gain acceptance or agreement from others for his own point of view through argumentation, personal ascendancy and tact.
Identifies and investigates the wishes and needs of others and acts accordingly
Views situations from different angles and thinks outside the box.
Knows how to combine things, and makes connections
Consults others/experts and knows how to involve them through networking
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Definition of entrepreneurship: ‘the ability to turn ideas into action that generate value for someone other than oneself.’* Therefore we have developed 3 learning playlists: ‘Ideas and opportunities’, ‘Resources’ and ‘Into Action’. These are the 3 areas where you show the ability to transform ideas and opportunities into action by mobilising resources. These resources can be personal (namely, self-awareness and self-efficacy, motivation and persever-ance), material (for instance, production means and financial resources) or non-material (for instance, specific knowledge, skills and attitudes).*
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﻿Entrecomp (The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework) defines entrepreneurship as a transversal competence, which applies to all spheres of life: from nurturing personal development, to actively participating in society, to (re)entering the job market as an employee or as a self-employed person, and also to starting up ventures (cultural, social or commercial). This competence model is used to define the Open Badges that you can earn during this learning playlist.
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Why should you do this playlist
To understand how you can recognise and strengthen entrepreneurial traits and skills in yourself. And to be aware about how to take advantage of them.
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Within this playlist you will work on the ability to identify and develop ideas and opportunities. 
Activity 1, Spotting Opportunities: You will practice how to use your imagination and abilities to identify opportunities for creating value. 
Activity 2, Creativity: Develop creative and purposeful ideas. 
Activity 3, Vision: Work towards your vision of the future. 
Activity 4, Valuing ideas: Make the most of ideas and opportunities. 
Activity 5, Thinking Ethically and sustainably: Assess the consequences and impact of ideas, opportunities and actions.
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To know if this playlist is for you, you can complete the self-assessment to see which skills can be learned inside the different activities.
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For each completed activity you can earn a micro-credential badge. When all steps are fulfilled you will earn the Playlist Ideas and Opportunities Badge.
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Good luck and have fun!
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There are two other playlist where you can learn and show how to be entrepreneurial: 
Learning Playlist Into Action
﻿Learning Playlist Resources﻿
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* Entrecomp: The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework, JCR Science for policy report, 2016, page 10

Activities to complete

Complete the following activities, earn badges and you will see your playlist progress updated

SPOTTING OPPORTUNITIES

Mandatory

3 hours

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CREATIVITY

Mandatory

3 hours

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Content

Creativity as a competence is important because it's a source that helps us develop several ideas and opportunities to create value, including better solutions to existing and new challenges we encounter. It stimulates us to explore and experiment with innovative approaches and combine knowledge and resources to achieve valuable effects. 
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As a person with entrepreneurial skills you will view situations from different angles and thinks outside the box. A person who is creative can:
Explore new ways to make use of existing resources.
Alone and as part of a team, can develop ideas that create value for others.
Explore open-ended problems in many ways so as to generate multiple solutions.
Improve existing products, services and processes so that they better meet their own needs or those of their peers and the community.
Describe how some innovations have transformed society
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Creativity is something you can improve in many ways. You can become more creative through collaboration, or doing something that you really love. Finding inspiration from role models inside but also outside your community or branch. But also by doing nothing, really unplug from everything that keeps your mind busy.
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Building blocks of creativity are; 
Be curious and open, 
Develop ideas, 
Define problems, 
Design value, 
Be innovative.
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Curious and open
Curiosity arises when we realise that we don't know something yet, but would like to know it. When curiosity is aroused, our brains get to work and strengthen the connections in the brain. Someone who is open minded will not be hindered by his beliefs or past experiences. When you face the world with an open mind, you are open to new ideas, experiences, theories, people and ways of life. 4 reasons why curiosity is important and how to develop it﻿
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Develop ideas
Creativity is quickly associated with fantasy and imagination. That association is very justified: if you have a rich imagination and can easily imagine things, it easily leads to many different ideas. However, this only really works when there is a deep-seated sense of reality against it. When you want to get new ideas you need to be relaxed. You get the best ideas when you don't 'have to' do anything and feel good about yourself. Stress causes your focus to become very small. When you feel relaxed you see more, many more possibilities. Here is a Japanese way to relieve stress in 5 minutes.
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Define problems
Is there a problem? When describing the problem, distinguish between the facts (relations between causes and effects) on the one hand, and the valuation of those facts on the other. The facts are the same for everyone, their appreciation depends on the interests one has and the values one uses. And they can differ per party. Problem - Ariana Granda ft. Iggy Azalea﻿
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Design value
Designing with value is easier when you create a story about the value that you want to create. Our values are important because they help us grow and develop. They help us create the future we want to experience. When values are shared in a group, it ensures social cohesion in a group or organisation.
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Be innovative
Innovation is starting with a new idea, method, or a product. Innovations can transform a society. For example Velcro, a material that consists of two strips of nylon fabric which are pressed together to close things such as pockets and bags, is invented by learning from nature. Do you want to see other examples of being innovative, check out ‘Who came up with the idea for Velcro?﻿
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Practice your creativity in the following micro-learning activities and earn your Creativity badge.

Get activity badge

THE CURIOUS CREATIVE YOU Get this badge

The owner of this Creativity badge has:
Shown to be curious and open
Developed ideas
Shown to be innovative
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The holder of this badge has worked independently and in collaboration with peers at the skill ‘Creativity’ which connects with the area Ideas and Opportunities (foundation level) of Entrecomp, the European Entrepreneurial Competence framework to improve the entrepreneurial capacity of European citizens and organisations.
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How the holder of this badge worked on these skills can be seen in the evidence in the badge tasks. Adult educators have assessed the completed tasks.

You have to finish all tasks to get the badge

Tasks

Task no.1

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

The creative you: Discover your own creative talents and type by taking the online assessment www.mycreativetype.com. Share your results here.

Task no.2

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

Curiosity arises when we realise that we don't know something yet, but would like to know it. When curiosity is aroused, our brains get to work and strengthen the connections in the brain. 
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To get your brains working: Can you come up with 25 different uses for a spoon that don’t include using it to eat food? When you want to put some pressure on yourself, you can even set a time clock on 5 minutes. Share your list here.

VISION

Mandatory

3 hours

View full activity

VALUING IDEAS

Mandatory

3 hours

View full activity

ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE THINKING

Mandatory

3 hours

View full activity

Skills

EntreComp

#Design value

EntreComp

#Be accountable

EntreComp

#Guide action

EntreComp

#Analyse the context

EntreComp

#Be innovative

EntreComp

#Define problems

EntreComp

#Be curious and open

EntreComp

#Think sustainably

EntreComp

#Assess impact

EntreComp

#Behave ethically

EntreComp

#Recognise the value of ideas

EntreComp

#Imagine

EntreComp

#Identify, create and seize opportunities

EntreComp

#Focus on challenges

EntreComp

#Uncover needs

EntreComp

#Share and protect ideas

EntreComp

#Develop ideas

EntreComp

#Think strategically

Activities: 5

Started: 34

Completed playlist: 0

Time to complete: 15 hours

Organisers

Network of Cities and Regions of Learning

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