Authentic Learning Experiences in Entrepreneurship: Engaging External Stakeholders

Abstract

This paper is a critical review of an entrepreneurship course that emphasizes experiential education via ‘flipped classroom’ methods. In particular, this paper explores the degree to which experiential learning opportunities and assessment tasks support authentic attainment of the courses’ Program Learning Outcomes (Outcomes). The present analysis summarizes a scaffolded approach to providing increasingly authentic learning experiences that sit at the intersection of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial practice, i.e., the learning experiences by students are indistinguishable from what ‘real’ entrepreneurs experience. One limitation to this approach is that authentic learning is contingent on the student’s level of engagement and their willingness to test their ideas outside the classroom with external stakeholders.

Keywords: entrepreneurship education, flipped classroom, authentic learning, accelerators

JEL Classification: M00, M13, O30, A20