Teaching Sandy in the Classroom

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Noodle Staff November 3, 2012

Reflecting over Hurricane Sandy allows students to learn about journalism, meteorology, and more.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

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When schools head back on Monday, many East Coast students will have gone through experiences that range from the traumatic to inconvenient. Regardless, the experience will have been a vivid one for students throughout the region, making it an incredibly potent teaching tool for any number of subjects.

The New York Times Blog, The Learning Network put together a really smart list of subjects and techniques for getting the most out of Sandy's resonance in the classroom. Here are some ideas from the New York Times and our own noodles:

Have students write personal essays about their experiences

The science of hurricanes

There are some great videos about hurricanes from EarthLab about hurricanes, heat and barometric pressure. The Times also presented this great resource from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Hurricane Sandy and the 2012 Election

How will Sandy affect the national election? Should election day be extended for citizens living in areas hobbled by Sandy? You could also use this as a jumping off point to discuss national, state, and local government in general.

Social Media Literacy

The Times discusses the millions of Instagram photos that were posted during the Sandy, some of which were fraudulent. Another take would be to talk about the tweeter @comfortablysmug who tweeted several false reports during Hurricane Sandy. Because reporters were using twitter as a source of breaking news, much of it generated by individuals' firsthand experience, about the hurricane the false tweets were picked up by major news outlets before being proven false. This would make an opinion essay topic or a lesson in the ethical uses of social media.

Teach students around the country about Sandy

Students around the country and the world will be curious to learn about Sandy. Using ePals, you can match your students up with e-penpals across the country to share their experiences or Sandy-related lessons.

Here are a few more ideas we came up with this afternoon:

Public journalism during disasters

Why is journalism so important during disasters like a hurricane? With many residents out of power and internet during the hurricane, families turned to hand-powered radios, NPR, and WNYC for news about what was going on in the outside world. Since the story, many have looked to the New York Times to keep informed about recovery efforts and changes in the last few days. As a resident of Greenpoint, Brooklyn during the storm, my best source of information came from a local news outlet, greenpointers.com. What can we do protect local, public news sources in future? Why are they so important in local catastrophes like a hurricane?

Meteorology, satellites and storm tracking

NASA and NOAA are producing some really interesting visuals of Sandy, including some really cool satellite images of the view inside Sandy. Use these images to discuss meteorology and how satellites work and why they're so important for forecasting weather in general. Today's Science Friday program on NPR has a wealth of information about our satellites and how Sandy links to climate change. There's also a really beautiful wind map visualization here.

Wildlife during hurricanes

What happens to fish, birds, and other animals during big hurricanes? **

Check out more ideas at The Learning Network and let us know how you're teaching Sandy in the classroom!

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