By Laura Lane
The new business was created by seniors in Virtual Enterprise, a new course taught by Ellen Katz. The class gives Calhoun students an experience not available to other Long Island teenagers. By next June, they should know just about everything there is to know about what's involved in the real world of business.
The program, based on the European concept of practice firms, enables students to run simulated offices at school by engaging in virtual trading online with other practice firms.
"This is the best way to teach business education," said Katz. "Instead of teaching it in pieces, I can do it under one roof, where students are dealing with the business world. I don't know why other schools on Long Island don't offer it."
Katz explored the possibility of bringing the class to Calhoun two years ago after she read about it in a business newsletter. She attended a workshop for a week to learn about what was needed, and then she acquired the funding.
"I met with our principal [David Seinfeld], and spoke to someone at the Board of Cooperative Services and to our assistant superintendent, Arnold Goldstein, first," said Katz. "Then we all went to a classroom in Queens to observe an actual class. They raved about it."
When BOCES committed to acquiring the necessary funds a year later, Katz taught her first class. "It's a hands-on class where students are constantly told that they are employees, not students," said Katz. "And they take the class seriously, which is important. I'm the last one in the room each day, and everyone is busy working."
Virtual Enterprise allows students to try all aspects of running a business, including human resources, accounting, product development, production, distribution, marketing and sales.
"It means a lot more when you can actually see it being done," said Casey Roeder, who hopes to go into advertising someday. "In this class, we have to make the transaction instead of learning what would happen if you made a transaction."
"And this class is so real, which is surprising," added Amanda Elliot, who hopes to enter the fashion world. "I've learned about the business involved in the fashion industry. In this class, we set up the company, and it's a lot of hard work."
There are 3,000 student-run virtual enterprise "firms" around the world, so the class will offer Calhoun students the chance to learn about other cultures, as well as the business practices and currencies of other countries.
"That will happen once they start buying from virtual enterprises out of this country, and it will be difficult for them because they'll have to deal with different currencies," said Katz.
And the workplace simulation will help the students understand how employees and departments interact with one another to create a successful business.
Seniors in the class said the course has made a difference in their daily lives. "When I'm going through a magazine, I'm now more aware of finding out what's selling, and then I bring it in to show everyone," said Alexandra Sanky, who plans to work in advertising. "I think this class really prepares you for the future. It's so hands-on, and we make all the big decisions in our group."
Francesca Naula is the office manager of Katz & Dogs Pets & Pets Supplies and assists the chief executive officer. She's learned to help create meeting agendas, striving to keep the business running smoothly. "You learn so many skills in this class -- people skills," Naula said. "You learn to be able to talk to co-workers and learn how all of the different departments work."
Roeder is the vice president of design. She learned how to create a Web site for the company, a skill she would need in the advertising industry.
"I'm interested in the psychology of advertising," Roeder said. "And I find it interesting how each department depends on the other. When I make a Web site, I now think of what will be appealing to my customer and think of who it is that will be doing the buying."
Katz said the students "will have a decent understanding of the jobs that have to be done when you run a business. That's because in each department one person has to prepare a presentation for the other departments. Every topic is a major lesson."
Katz has reached out to the Merrick business community to help make her class even more valuable. She envisions business leaders as student advisers who can act as mentors, make presentations on business topics and schedule visits for students to their work sites.
Comments about this story? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
