When youth are exposed to entrepreneurial thinking, a profound change takes place. They become more aware of opportunities around them, develop powerful problem-solving skills, and improve their abilities to think critically and creatively.
The fear and insecurity they may associate with subjects in the STEAM fields often disappear as they discover that these tools can be used to solve problems that fascinate them and may ultimately help society.
As youth learn more about imagining and creating business ventures of their own, they discover the ability of science and technology to help make their dreams possible. And the greater their knowledge about entrepreneurship and STEAM, the more imaginative and far-seeing they become.
The ultimate effect is that youth become steadily more confident and fearless about their ability to tackle and conquer challenges of all kinds.
Entrepreneurial mindsets + STEAM
What does thinking like an entrepreneur look like when exploring STEAM concepts? Check out six entrepreneurial mindsets and how they connect to STEAM:
1. Creativity
Create a physical model of a life cycle
Illustrate the plot of a story
Choreograph a new dance
2. Curiosity
Question assumptions, “But why?”
Explore an object and make observations, “I notice…”
Take something apart to see how it works
3. Growth mindset
See an unexpected outcome as an opportunity to learn something new
Practice a skill and improve, even though they fail along the way
Read about a topic to learn more about it
4. Empathy
- Care for a classroom plant or pet
- Consider the effects humans have on Earth’s natural resources
- Organize a clothing drive
5. Problem solving
Propose a different way to test a hypothesis or solve an equation
Replace a missing material in an experiment with another
Revise a technical writing assignment to add missing information
6. Embracing failure
Draw/sketch an idea and show it to someone else
Sound out a new word while you’re reading
View mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow
Bring ESTEAM to youth
You are an entrepreneur, and so are your students. Start using the entrepreneurial mindset vocabulary in your science and math classroom, your STEM club, your maker space, or your drama club.
How can you keep these mindsets top of mind while working with youth?
Give students these words to validate the amazing thinking they demonstrate and watch their confidence sky rocket! Tell them they’re being creative, empathetic, and resourceful. (You can even print out stickers to award mindset moments.)
Print our free Entrepreneurial Mindsets Poster to hang in your learning space or put in student journals. Have them use the mindset terms to describe themselves and others.
Looking for more ways to foster entrepreneurial thinking or how to plan a youth entrepreneurial event?
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Originally published September 19, 2021. Updated May 13, 2024 for clarity and formatting.
