Frequently Asked Questions

How does the “live” and “online” learning work? Participants meet for at least three face-to-face sessions (orientation, financial and commencement) with their coach in their own region. A statewide facilitator leads students through six structured online modules with reading, written assignments and learning activities. In addition, participants can meet face-to face with their coach any time they may have questions during the online weeks.

What are a “facilitator” and a “coach”? The BizSMART facilitator is like the teacher in a regular classroom. He or she manages the information and guides discussion. The facilitator is an experienced business counselor and professional who provides additional resources and advice as students need it. The facilitator also reviews the business plan and enrichment activities and provides feedback. The facilitator can be reached by phone or e-mail anytime during the class.

The coach is a regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) counselor located in the student’s geographical area. He or she becomes a personal resource to coach the student through the BizSMART process. The coach leads all the live sessions and will also review the business plan and enrichment activities and provide feedback. The student has the benefit of personal access to the coach after the course is over.

What is WebCT? WebCT is the software platform that operates BizSMART. It includes a format for e-mail, discussion, live chat and an outlined path or process that leads students through a learning module. WebCT also allows the facilitators and coaches to see how many hours students spend in various sections of the program. WebCT is like a virtual classroom.

How “computer smart” do I have to be in order to participate? You must be comfortable with e-mail and word processing programs. It is also helpful if you have an acquaintance with spreadsheets.

Do I have to have a high speed connection? WebCT is designed to work on dial-up speeds. Of course, some resource files will load more slowly at dial-up, but thousands of students use WebCT in outlying rural areas where high speed is not yet available. WebCT runs best on the Mozilla Firefox operating program.

Does BizSMART have test or grades? BizSMART is a non-credit course focused on the learning needs of business owners or serious start-ups. Students are motivated not by grades but by their quest for knowledge to run their operation smarter and more profitably. Each module includes a “readcheck” quiz to help test the learner’s understanding of the material, but no grade is given. Assignments are turned in to receive feedback. A certain number of discussions and assignment must be submitted in order to receive scholarship incentives.

How does the scholarship incentive work? The participant pays the entire tuition fee at registration. If the student completes the required assignments and participates in the minimum discussion, the designated amount is refunded after commencement. In other words, the work must be done to receive the incentive. All students are eligible for the incentive. The coaches and facilitator determine whether the minimum requirements have been met.

How much time does the BizSMART program require per week? The time varies according to the learning option chosen. For most participants the minimum time required is five hours per week. This would equate to three hours of regular classroom time and two hours of preparation. To prepare a more thorough business plan or in depth assignment could easily require twice or more the amount of time depending on the amount of research needed. In most cases, refinement to the plan is needed after commencement, and coaches will suggest improvements as needed by the student.

Can participants do both the business plan and the enrichment options? Yes. But doing both options will require more reading and preparation time.

Is BizSMART geared for the start-up or the existing business? The BizSMART resources are very robust. The student selects the resources and activities that will most benefit his/her business. The coach will assist in helping the student customize learning options. While many of the students have been in business five years or less, experienced business people taking the course often comment that they learn much as they, sometimes for the first time, focus on their business processes. As a start-up, a participant must have a business project firmly in mind prior to starting the course.

Do I have to buy books for BizSMART? No the textbook is loaned to students during the course. You may purchase it from the coach if you wish. Otherwise you bring it back to the coach at the commencement. All other materials are online and included in the cost of the course.

Do I have access to the online materials after the course is over? The materials may be available for several weeks after the commencement. But you should download everything you wish to keep.

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