Please take the time to view my elevator…
Please take the time to view my elevator Pitch and Venture Pitch for 21st Century Online Professional Development (21COPD). Please note that this is a fictitious venture and the screen captures of the website and Moodle site are mock-ups and not actually populated.
Here’s the link to my Elevator Pitch. I can’t seem to get it to embed properly.
Please click on the link for my Venture Pitch – 21COPD
Posted in: Venture Forum
Jody McKinnon 3:55 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Gillian. I’m supposed to look at your elevator pitch. I don’t see it linked here. Am I missing something?
gillian 10:30 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
sorry Jody – It was embedded when I posted it last night. I have linked it for you instead.
gillian
Deborah S 6:48 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Gillian,
I wasn’t able to locate your elevator pitch, so my comments only refer to your venture plan. I thought your document looked very professional; the logo and use of colour throughout were great! You did a good job outlining the competition for your venture and how it would operate.
I can certainly see the need for your venture to address the gaps you identified. I currently subscribe to an online service for PD in accounting and auditing that delivers four new segments every month. Have you given any thought to how much new content you’re planning to offer to your customers on a monthly basis?
Deborah
gillian 10:36 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Deborah,
Sorry about the video – it was embedded last night and then disappeared?? I have added a link instead if you would still like to take a look.
Thank you for your comments on my venture pitch – I carried the colours throughout the video as well. It sure was tough to stay within the 1 minute limit on video and 2000 words on the written.
As for your question – The plan was to have 2 webinars per month on emerging trends like new technologies – new tools or new strategies like flipped classrooms etc.
As for new courses … when I was doing the mock up for the Moodle page I had endless ideas – the hope was also to draw on ideas and submissions from the CoP – hopefully adding more than one new course per month – starting at a beginner level and then adding more advanced as people become more familiar with tools etc.
gillian
unclereg 8:20 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hey Deborah,
I couldn’t find your pitch either, so the comments that follow are in regard to just your venture pitch. First of all, Great idea. I really think this will eventually take off but the part that scares me is the ‘who is the buyer’ section. The BCTF will definitely be supportive of this with their stance that PD should be autonomous. The one party that would be difficult to persuade is the District/BC Ministry of EDUC. As teachers I like the idea of anytime/anywhere for PD (especially if employees are at home sick on PD days and can’t get out) but I worry about the district allowing PD days to be conducted off of school property outside of the hours of 8-3pm.
unclereg 8:25 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello again Deborah,
Sorry I didn’t give any suggestions for the idea. So here they are…..
If you can get the District/Ministry on board then this idea is money-in-the-bank. Teachers will love this and it will revolutionize pro-d. You will also have to be patient to see what the BC Ministry decides on its idea to ‘mandate’ pro-d so that your told where to go, and do not have the option to choose your pro-d activity anymore. Good luck.
-Regen
gillian 10:47 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Regen,
(it’s gillian actually 🙂 – ). Sorry about the absent video – it was there … I swear! Anyway, I have linked it above.
I agree that the BCTF would likely be supportive of such a venture – even if it would compete with their workshops – as for the Ministry … you’re right on that one. IF I could get them on board – I’d be set. When I found out CEET was part of LearnNowBC and funded by the Ministry, I was surprised and a little more hopeful about getting funding from the Ministry for my venture. They are quite a busy little CoP and are launching a “university” in the upcoming months – you should check them out. I was also encouraged by 2Learn.ca – which is the Alberta PD website – which is funded by BOTH the union and the government as well as a few other partners. They have some OPD available, but nothing on the scope I was hoping to achieve.
The PD off school grounds is another concern that I had – my understanding is that there is concern with regards to coverage from Worksafe BC if you do your PD from home. I suppose teachers could do courses and attend webinars from the school – but where’s the fun in that? PD in PJs I say! – It looks as if Alberta has it over on us on this one as well as I have had colleagues in other MET courses in Alberta who have used their ProD to work from home on their MET projects.
Thank you so much for your comments. I hope you have a minute (and 4 seconds) to check out my elevator pitch.
gillian
Danielle 12:57 pm on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Gillian,
I think you have done an amazing job with your elevator pitch and venture pitch. I think this is a viable venture and certainly one I would consider investing in. Probably one of the main reasons I would just because the market research you have done!
What I also find attractive about your proposal is that it includes opportunities for both self-guided learning as well as an opportunity to take part in a community of practice.I personally prefer to have the choice. Sometimes I want to embark on a new learning experience on my own, and other times I would prefer to learn within a community of collaborators. I also think it is fabulous that you have included UBC graduates on your team. I have included the same on my team, great minds think alike!
As for marketing, I would suggest giving teachers an opportunity to trial the site in order to fully appreciate it. Word-of-mouth is the best kind of advertising.
The resistance you mentioned would be interesting to see. I am not familiar with PD opportunities in British Columbia but from what I hear, a venture such as yours would offer teachers much more flexibility. I recall a classmate of ours in my first course in the MET program doing her final research proposal on online professional development opportunities for BC teachers. So I think they’re most certainly is a market for such a venture, and how you have presented it indicates to me that you not only have the knowledge and expertise as a CEO but you have also done your homework.
Well done!
Danielle
gillian 8:48 am on August 4, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for your time and kind comments; they are much appreciated.
The opportunity for a community of practice appeals to me as well and the research certainly supports the fact that if given the opportunity learners are more likely to put what they learn into practice if they have the continued support of such a community.
As for marketing, the site and its courses are free to all who subscribe and I would hope that through PD chairs and regular PD opportunities, teachers would be inspired to give it a try.
As for resistance … I believe that is the real pain point in this venture. I believe ProD in BC requires systemic reform itself. K-12 teachers are afforded only 6 days and in Adult Ed we are granted only 3 (some other districts afford their adult ed teachers 0 – which is atrocious). F2F proD simply doesn’t provide the opportunity or the time to offer much choice or application of what is learned and there is little incentive to go beyond what is paid. I could go on, but I am afraid I will just rant.
Thanks again,
gillian
Danielle 8:21 am on August 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Gillian,
Wow, your passion will most certainly ensure the success of this venture! I really like your idea and it’s one I’d like to model for PD opportunities where I live.
I find that where I live, we are never truly satisfied with government or instituitionally led PD programs (even when they are very well done, lol! We are a bit spoiled!) So I think another important strength of your venture, which I should have mentioned in my previous analysis, is your team of teachers. No matter where your venture is marketed, teachers are going to appreciate and respond to PD that is based on experience on the ground. Once again, well done!
Danielle
Bridget 5:40 pm on August 2, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Gillian,
Thank you for sharing your pitches and after reviewing your elevator pitch I have the follow comments.
I like the hook that you created with the first slide stating that “it’s coming”. I found myself wondering what was coming but unfortunately, I could not quite understand the audio to hear what it was. I would suggest something visual be inserted along with BC education. Seeing as I did not quite understand this part I had difficulty is seeing the connection link between the change in education and the online PD. I suggest using an exterior microphone for improved audio.
The logo is great, well designed and catchy. However, the acronym COPD is commonly known as “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” and is the first thing that came to my mind. In the education field this might not be a problem.
Bridget
gillian 8:57 am on August 3, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Bridget,
Couldn’t agree more with your comments regarding the audio on my elevator pitch – but you have to work with what you’ve got … and unfortunately a crappy microphone is what I got. I tried to mask the pings and echoes with music – but apparently to no avail.
I didn’t think of the “COPD” connection you mention – I guess I should have gone with the lower case ‘c’ after all.
Dennis Pratt 8:33 pm on August 2, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Gillian;
I think this is a great idea and would be a useful resource as some of us help plan PD for our staff and are always looking for solid resources. it is vital that your resources are free for teachers as I don’t know that I would pay for online resources, unless they came highly recommended by a colleague with the guarantee that they would work well for my plans as a professional development coordinator. I see the gap that you are trying to fill and don’t see any easy solutions. I don’t know if teachers will take time to complete even free online courses or modules because they do not have time, unless there are credits involved. If there is a way to offer these modules and have them fit directly into the daily routine of teachers or have them fit into their planning I think they would be quite useful. As mentioned earlier if the product is good, word-of-mouth will take the venture to the top.
Dennis
gillian 9:06 am on August 3, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dennis,
Thank you for your comments. You bring up some very practical points and they are ones that I struggled with in outlining my venture. One conclusion that i came to is that the pain point is not just with available PD for BC teachers, but also with the overall approach to PD. I see a systemic flaw – in the lack of incentive for teachers to engage in ongoing PD. However, I saw this as more a political issue and not really appropriate for the venture plan.
Hopefully, enough teachers will be inspired if the courses are integrated into the standard PD opportunities provided by non-instructional days.
Thank you again for your comments.
gillian
troos 2:01 pm on August 3, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Gillian:
Count on me as an investor in your venture: 21COPD. I think you have made an excellent business proposition in both your elevator and venture pitch. You explain clear pain points and provide matching solutions that sound effective and relevant. You appear well researched and confident in your video presentation. I found the background music to be a little loud; somewhat overwhelming. It would have helped to have some facial presence in the elevator pitch. You could have provided some more market information such as potential client numbers and expected revenue that would have appealed to investor interests.
I think your idea of professional development in the area of educational technology is an excellent idea and needed service. This is very similar to my venture proposition so I have some biased interest here. Your venture pitch is quite thorough in covering all the aspects of a venture and your self-analysis using the cube analysis is effective and helpful. I like the hosesty in your self assessment regarding the “ask” and “return”. I had the same problem – couldn’t really find anything online that was similar enough to the venture while providing this information. In your competition section, do you not feel that the BCTF as they support and provide professional development would be part of your competition along with universities?
Overall, I think you provide a convincing pitch for a possible venture.
Tim
gillian 8:57 am on August 4, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Tim,
Thank you for your time and feedback on my pitches.
Your comments on my elevator pitch are very true – one I can explain due to technical deficiencies and the other – well … shyness. I included the music to hopefully cover up some of the feedback and pinging in the narration – it was hard to find a balance … I guess I missed it.
In reference to competition … I do agree that the BCTF itself could be competition which is part of the reason why I would target them directly as an investor. The BCTF PD offerings do not focus on 21st century skills, nor do they provide any online offerings. In regards to the universities … well, I suppose you can’t beat free.
Thanks again and I will have to take a peek at your venture – gotta keep an eye on the competition :P.
gillian
sheza 7:38 pm on August 4, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Gillian,
I think your have a great idea here – there is definitely a market for some reliable, well-resourced PD that can be accessed cheaply (or freely as you suggest) from home! I think you would want to pitch this venture to your BC College of Teachers or to your school district and get them to put in the money to fund it and then run it for the members who are BC teachers or the school board’s employees. That would be the best bet – if I were on a board of either of those two groups, I would make the decision to invest in this venture.
I am currently at a private school that does little to no PD because they don’t put value in it (sadly) and therefore don’t budget for it. There are teachers working at my school who are completely out of the loop of what the current provincial focus is regarding educational, technology, assessment etc, only because they have been at the school for years and there has been no PD to keep them up to date. This would be something that this type of market could greatly benefit from were it a free resource available to certified teachers. Maybe something our annual fees could go towards paying for?
Another drawback someone else mentione din the comments above I think was the lack of motivation you might have for teachers to use this online PD even though it’s free due to lack of time. There are certain professional designations for which you need to complete a certain number of PD hours a year in order to maintain your qualification – perhaps if this were an endeavour taken on and supported by the BC College of Teachers you could be looking at a guaranteed market of users. This could be one of the places you could earn yoru PD points for the year, for example.
I think the focus here is a strong one – your venture pitch is a sound one – and that you could seriously think about presenting it to the key players and get a response!
Good job,
Sheza
toddpowell 10:26 pm on August 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Gillian,
All I can say is that, coming from another BC teacher, this should certainly be pitched to the BCTF! Really well done and well thought of. Where you thinking of Christie Clarke when you created this?
Cheers,
Todd