Please note: The workplace shadowing can be conducted at any time in the curriculum that the teacher considers appropriate.

Introduction

Students spend two to six hours with an entrepreneur in the community, learning about the company, its products, and its operation in the marketplace. The shadowing experience is an active, planned session. Students complete an assignment, including an interview with the owner, a tour of the facilities, the identification of personality characteristics, and an observation of the entrepreneur in action. Together the student and entrepreneur explore a current economic decision confronting the business.

While the workplace shadowing takes a great deal of time and effort, both teachers and students report it is extremely beneficial.

Materials

• Student Shadowing Handbook, one copy per student
• Mentor Data Sheet, Student Sheet 12A, one copy per student
• Student Data Sheet, Student Sheet 12B, one copy per student
• Mentor Shadowing Handbook, one copy per mentor

Time Required

• Workplace Shadowing Experience -- two to six hours
• Workplace Shadowing Preparation -- one class period or less
• Workplace Shadowing Debriefing -- one class period

Procedure

1. Select an appropriate day and time for workplace shadowing.

   Inform administration and school faculty about the "workplace shadowing" day well in advance.

2. Establish transportation arrangements.

   Mentors may be willing to transport students. School vans or buses can be used. Parents or the students may provide transportation in some cases.

3. Survey students' interests.

   Design and use a written survey or discuss interests with students in class.

4. Recruit small-business mentors using results of student interest survey as the criteria for selection and recruitment of mentors.

   Both the mentors and students enjoy and benefit more from this experience if the student is matched with an entrepreneur who is in a business that is interesting to the student. For example, a student interested in cars could shadow a car dealer, an auto parts store, or repair/body shop owner.

5. Send Mentor Shadowing Handbook to business owners.

   Include a cover letter. A sample is included in the Handbook. Put your address on the Mentor Evaluation Form before sending.

6. Send field trip permission slips to parents.

   Send a letter to the parents explaining the program and the "workplace shadowing" experience with the permission slip. If you do this every year, you could include quotes from previous students who participated.

7. Establish procedure for emergencies during actual "workplace shadowing" experience.

   Establish a procedure for informing the mentors of absent students on the day of "workplace shadowing." Also establish a procedure for the entrepreneur to communicate emergencies.

8. Prepare students for the experience.

   Give each student a copy of a completed Mentor Data Sheet (Student Sheet 12A). This sheet informs the student about the mentor they will be shadowing.

   Have students call their assigned mentors to confirm the date, time and place approximately one week before the shadowing.

   Have the student complete the Student Data Sheet (Student Sheet 12B). He/she will give this sheet to the mentor upon arrival at the small-business firm.

   Review Student Shadowing Handbook which outlines expectations and assignments.

   Review proper behavior and dress for the occasion.

   Review the transportation arrangements.

   Give students time to ask questions and voice concerns.

9. Conduct "workplace shadowing" experience.

   Some help may be needed on the actual workplace shadowing day to coordinate transportation and be available to answer the phone or make phone calls for last-minute emergencies.

10. Debrief students on the actual experience.

    During the next scheduled class ask each student to share his/her experiences and information gathered during the workplace shadowing adventure; i.e., name of the mentor and company, location and products/services produced, and an evaluation of the experience. Ask students to write a thank-you note to their mentor.