Teachers and support staff can chose to use LocalBiz Project in a variety of different ways. The software is simple to use and teachers/students only require the ability to use the Internet.

Three different uses are explained below, but you can adapt it to your specifi needs.

1. Enabling teachers to deliver key 'Work-related Learning, Enterprise and Citizenship Skills'

Students create an easy to use on-line local business directory on research work carried out in the community (through surverys, visits etc.)

Teachers can include elements of the Project work as separate activities within business-type programmes including GNVQ and vocational GCSEs. See OFSTED report. There is a specially designed Level 2 qualification - "The BTEC Internediate Award in Local business Development", and the project provides numerous opportunities to build a portfolio to gain 1.5 GCSE points equivalent trough wider Key Skills.

The process is as follows:

• Students undertake a number of business research activities, potentially as part of their work experience activities, each student collecting information on 1 or 2 local businesses. Students, under guidance of teachers, will then input the data into the system.
• Teachers could work individually or in teams, organising students in different classes to complete separate elements of the project (or share the work in combined groups).
• This could include getting the whole school, year group, or course members energized to work, perhaps for a week, on a theme "Getting Local Businesses On-line".
• The system can optionally be used to provide income for the school and/or the students (advertisers pay for an entry in the directory). Money management issues can be reduced by requesting each advertiser to make a voluntary donation. Alternatively, this can be offered as a free service to local businesses.

One Lead teacher controls/guides the overall project. Some responsibility can be given to selected students - decided by teacher.

2. A Project enabling students to participate in various National or Regional Competitions (e.g. YE) by creating and publishing an on-line local business directory.

In this use of the Project the students will form some sort of a Business Club (inside or outside school hours), and they have full control over the running of a small ebusiness.

• Student's have full control to set up and run their own ebusiness.
• Making profit is an expected outcome and students will undertake to research businesses in their community and then charge customers to be included in the web directory.
• The process follows the guidelines as described in the first option
• This can operate equally well within the Young Enterprise Programme (or equivalent) or independently of it e.g. an inter-school mini-enterprise challenge.
• Generating income and profit is a key factor in the "assessment of success" process.

The Lead Teacher oversees the programme.

3. Providing the school with a comprehensive in-house business directory.

Available for internal use only . This is web based and can be used by teachers, students and administrative staff but it is not available to businesses or the general public. The school utilises the system to compile a list of businesses and contacts in their local area. The system currently contains a comprehensive Contact Management system. Data concerning each business is stored in a simple text format.

A future expansion of the system will allow a comprehensive and detailed analysis of businesses and organisations operating within the school's area. It can be used:

•  to support the school's work experience programmes;

•  to provide a resource for publishing extensive research work done by students;

•  as a comprehensive easy access database for further research and analysis by students/academic or administrative staff;

•  to track future contacts within local businesses and organisations.

One way in which this may be set up is:

• The teacher provides the students with information the school already has about local business in their area (hard copy, computer files etc)
• The students input the data into the appropriate sections of the system
• Organisations are contacted (by phone, email or letter), and such contacts logged using the contact management system, to:
• Check current details are still correct (contact names etc)
• Collect information that might be missing (fax, web address)
• Enhance the information held about the business
• The upkeep overhead and benefits derived are shared by both staff and students
• The school would self-fund the annual licence.

Lead teacher controls/guides the project.

More Ideas?

The LocalBiz team are very interested to hear about any ideas teachers may have to adapt, adopt or add alternative options. Our goal is to deliver a unique and sustainable service which fully meets student, school and community needs, whilst enabling teachers to deliver interesting and worthwhile learning situations.

Please contact us with suggestions - they would be most appreciated.

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