Business · 6th Year

Active learning ideas

The Role of the Entrepreneur

The Role of the Entrepreneur examines the individuals who take the financial and personal risks to start a business. In Ireland, entrepreneurs are viewed as vital drivers of economic growth, particularly in the tech, pharma, and agri-food sectors. This topic requires students to distinguish between the general concept of enterprise and the specific, high-stakes role of the entrepreneur.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA Leaving Certificate Business Syllabus - Section 2.2
• NCCA Leaving Certificate Economics Specification - Strand 2.2

• 25–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Stations Rotation
• 45 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Entrepreneurial Skills

Four stations are set up, each focusing on a different skill: Networking, Risk Management, Innovation, and Time Management. Students complete a 10-minute mini-task at each station, such as drafting a 30-second elevator pitch or prioritizing a chaotic business schedule.

What skills are essential for a successful entrepreneur?

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Identifying the Gap

Students identify one problem they face in their daily lives in Ireland. They pair up to brainstorm a product or service that could solve it, then share their 'market gap' with the class to evaluate its commercial viability.

How do entrepreneurs identify market gaps?

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Inquiry Circle
• 50 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Irish Success Stories

Groups research a specific Irish entrepreneur (e.g., the Collison brothers or Nora Casey). They must identify the specific 'entrepreneurial characteristics' that led to their success and present a visual timeline of their business growth.

What impact do entrepreneurs have on the Irish economy?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Entrepreneurs are just 'lucky' people who had a good idea.

  Success usually comes from a combination of a good idea and rigorous application of skills like market research and financial planning. Using a 'skills vs. luck' debate helps students recognize the hard work behind the scenes.

• You need a lot of money to be an entrepreneur.

  Many Irish businesses start with minimal capital (bootstrapping) or support from Local Enterprise Office grants. Analyzing different funding paths through a group investigation helps correct the idea that wealth is a prerequisite.

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Methods used in this brief

• Stations Rotation
• Think-Pair-Share
• Inquiry Circle