BEM1O
Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset
This hands-on Grade 9 business course introduces the mindset, skills and processes that help entrepreneurs succeed. Students learn to take initiative, work in teams, use business technologies, design entrepreneurial ideas and communicate them through a pitch.
Grade
9
Credit
1.0
Delivery
Online
Prerequisite
None
About This Course
This hands-on Grade 9 business course introduces the mindset, skills and processes that help entrepreneurs succeed. Students learn to take initiative, work in teams, use business technologies, design entrepreneurial ideas and communicate them through a pitch.
What You'll Learn
- Develop an entrepreneurial mindset built on initiative, adaptability, creativity and problem-solving.
- Use leadership and project-management processes to plan and complete business-related tasks.
- Use business technologies responsibly, including attention to online safety and data security.
- Identify market needs and design, test and refine an entrepreneurial idea.
- Consider financial, social, environmental and ethical impacts when making business decisions.
- Create business communications and pitch an entrepreneurial idea to different audiences.
Skills You'll Develop
- Leadership and project management
- Design thinking, ideation and problem-solving
- Business technology and digital communication
- Budgeting and financial decision-making
- Pitching, presentation, networking and professional communication
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate business leadership and use a project-management process.
- Use business-related digital technologies safely, responsibly and effectively.
- Connect business knowledge and skills to other subjects and careers.
- Explain contributions and challenges of entrepreneurs in social, economic and environmental contexts.
- Use a design process to identify market needs and develop an entrepreneurial idea.
- Refine an idea through problem-solving while considering ethical, social, economic and environmental impacts.
- Use a pitch process and create effective business texts for target audiences.
Course Units
The following reflects the school’s planned organization of the course. Approximate time allocations may be adjusted while all curriculum expectations and required planned learning are maintained.
| Unit | Title / Major Learning Focus | Approx. Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entrepreneurial Mindset, Leadership and Project Management | 18 hours |
| 2 | Business Technologies, Digital Safety and Business Communication | 18 hours |
| 3 | Finding Market Needs and Designing an Entrepreneurial Idea | 22 hours |
| 4 | Refining the Idea: Problem Solving, Ethics, Sustainability and Financial Considerations | 20 hours |
| 5 | Pitching, Networking and Gathering Support | 14 hours |
| 6 | Culminating Entrepreneurship Portfolio, Prototype and Pitch | 16 hours |
| Final | Mandatory Written Final Examination | 2 hours |
Assessment
Assessment uses evidence gathered over time from student work, conversations and observations. The final grade for 2026–2027 is determined as follows:
| Component | Weight | How It Is Determined |
|---|---|---|
| Course work throughout the course | 65% | Evidence gathered throughout the course, with emphasis on consistent and more recent achievement. |
| Mandatory written final examination | 10% | Written final examination during the designated final-evaluation period. |
| Culminating task | 10% | Culminating entrepreneurship work that may include a portfolio, prototype and pitch. |
| Attendance and participation | 15% | Based on meaningful engagement and participation in planned learning. |
Examples of Assessment Evidence
Evidence may include conferences, oral explanations, discussions, demonstrations, drafts, portfolios, tests, projects, presentations, business communications, pitch practice and final evaluations.
Pathways
Students connect entrepreneurial and project-management skills to self-employment, business ownership, skilled trades, community initiatives and a wide range of careers in business, technology, social enterprise and the creative industries.
The course also develops transferable skills that can be applied in other subjects, postsecondary learning, community contexts and future employment.
Teacher Support
- Students learn primarily through the school's secure online learning environment and receive ongoing support from qualified teachers.
- Teacher-supported conferencing, tutorials and scheduled live support are available as appropriate.
- Students receive guidance through entrepreneur case studies, design-thinking challenges, market-needs research and prototyping.
- Teachers support project planning, milestones, time management, budgeting and financial-decision scenarios.
- Students receive feedback on business writing, digital-media work, presentations and pitch practice.
- Learning goals, success criteria and timely descriptive feedback help students identify strengths and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the course code?
BEM1O — Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open.
How many credits is BEM1O?
The course is worth 1.0 Ontario secondary school credit.
Is there a prerequisite?
No. There is no prerequisite or co-requisite.
Is the course only for students who want to start a business?
No. The course develops transferable skills such as initiative, project management, communication, adaptability and problem-solving that apply across many subjects and careers.
How is the course delivered?
It is delivered online through the school’s secure learning management system, primarily asynchronously, with teacher-supported conferencing, tutorials and scheduled live support as appropriate.
How is the final grade calculated?
65% course work, 10% mandatory written final examination, 10% culminating task, and 15% attendance and participation.
Will students create an entrepreneurial idea?
Yes. Students identify market needs, develop and refine an idea, and practise communicating it through a pitch and culminating entrepreneurship portfolio.
Ready to Take This Course?
$549 / Credit
- Provided by CSW — Canadian School of the World
- Ontario Ministry of Education registered
- Delivered fully online
Need Help Deciding?
Not sure if this is the right course? Book a free 30-minute meeting with a CSW advisor.
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