Danisa Abiel is well known for her practical solutions to teaching and learning in the advancing fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). She is the founder of International Teaching Learning Assessment Consultants and Online Schools (ITLACO). She has authored 20 editions of her newsletter, "The Educator's Diaries," on LinkedIn.
"Once an educator, always an educator," people in the world of education will say. Wherever educators go, they will always be obligated to impart a line or two of wisdom, whether solicited or not, with an emphasis on the importance of education to society. Another important and common quote in the world of teaching and learning is, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." This popular saying describes how education can change a person's life and how an educated and learned person can change the world. Thus, education and learning are paramount in anybody’s life.
What is an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur sees business opportunities and takes action to realize their vision. They are innovative problem solvers and are not afraid to take risks to start new ventures, which create wealth.
Being an entrepreneur may be one of the most rewarding and exciting professions in the world, especially if one is running a successful business. However, it is not as easy as people may think. There is more to it than just starting a company, investing some cash, and then trying to make it into the harsh reality of the modern business world. It is also about finding the right angle that works for one's personality and staying true to one's goals, cause, and desires.
One way of staying true to this in education is perhaps considering edupreneurship, as it fulfills both aspects of being a great educator, with a focus on the academic outcomes of students on a national and international scale, and the business aspects (whether profit or non-profit) that determine the organization and how it is run and funded.
What is edupreneurship?
Edupreneurship comes from the two terms education and entrepreneurship and is relatively new. Therefore, edupreneurs are people with an educational background from the teaching sector who have the innovation to introduce a certain level of professionalism in the industry that will bring change to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment in education. They are also interested in business, which usually funds educational aspects.
Naturally, as with entrepreneurs, not all edupreneurs are the same, and several essential differences can be noted among them. For example:
Political and corporate edupreneurs focus on business and political aspects of education, aiming to mold young minds into professionals in various fields within political organizations or the corporate industry.
Religious edupreneurs genuinely love exploring religions, funding schools, and providing scholarships.
Media edupreneurs are passionate about the media technology industry and the development of educational technology and systems.
Philanthropic edupreneurs support their communities in various ways, including financially, organizationally, and logistically, striving to make a real difference in global humanitarian crises.
Edupreneurs are, at their core, mission-driven. Their livelihood centers on creating positive impacts on their societies and the world through education. They are often dedicated to establishing new educational organizations and businesses, advocating and developing new edtech tools, and delivering significant speeches worldwide.
What, then, does it take for educators to become edupreneurs?
Humility
Edupreneurs are passionate about transformative learning. They are not conducting business solely for profit; their aim is to transform children's and others' lives by advancing education. For example, Stephen Churchville, who began developing LessonWriter in 2002, mentioned in EdTech Digest that he sought to assist teachers in creating better lessons more efficiently.
Bringing change in how learning takes place
With their innovative ideas and strong sense of initiative, edupreneurs are enablers of the education industry. They have changed how people and students learn, how teachers communicate, and how students understand concepts. Through edtech, they have developed educational systems that effectively enable teaching and learning to take place anytime and anywhere in the world.
Edupreneurs are lifelong learners
An edupreneur never misses an opportunity to educate themselves. This continuous learning allows them to offer more to their students by sharing in many ways what they have learned. Edupreneurs are thought leaders who believe education is transformational, which is the main reason they shift into this vocation.
Who are edupreneurs in our societies today?
Edupreneurs appear under various titles and forms, including:
Thought leaders, consultants, and coaches: Subject matter experts who share their ideas and coach individuals and businesses to improve their work. They transform the world through their thinking and experiences. Notable thought leaders include Jay Shetty and Adam Grant.
Educators with an entrepreneurial mindset: Professionals with backgrounds in education and teaching who monetize their educational skills. These educators, teachers, and professors focus not only on transforming their students and communities but also on sustaining their livelihoods from a business perspective.
CEOs who use education as a s: With e-learning projected to reach approximately $325 billion by 2025, businesses are pivoting their sales strategies to include e-learning. Tech companies and web applications provide learning resources for their users through blogs, tutorials, open forums, free workshops, and community discussions.
For notable startups and established edupreneurs, consider exploring the following resources:
Read more from Danisa Abiel
Danisa Abiel, Teaching and Learning Consultant and Founder
Danisa Abiel is a passionate leader and educator in Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, with over thirty years of experience. Witnessing firsthand how students find science subjects challenging, she founded an online school to support students in various situations to improve and excel in science. Her greatest aspiration is to ensure all children receive the best science education, regardless of where they are in the world.
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