For many years, Sébastien, a teacher in France, has incorporated Odoo into his curriculum for the Science and Technology of Management and Business (STMG) baccalaureate, as well as for professional skills in the Advanced Technician's Certificate (BTS). The concept of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is integral to the curriculum, and Odoo provides an effective tool for teaching these concepts.
Integrating Odoo in the Classroom
Sébastien uses Odoo to create realistic business contexts for his students. He explains, "To introduce Odoo to my students, I naturally turned to the online solution. I often use business scenarios, inspired by the game Scale-up or created from scratch, to immerse students in realistic situations."
In the STMG baccalaureate, he creates an Odoo database with a business context and multiple accounts, where each student assumes the role of a different employee (accountant, worker, HR manager, marketing manager, etc.). This approach helps students understand the roles and interactions within an ERP system.
For management students, Sébastien adopts a more individualized approach. Each student manages a fictitious business, handling billing, accounting, CRM, marketing automation, and personnel management. This hands-on experience helps students grasp complex management mechanisms and develop essential professional skills.
Advantages of Using Odoo
According to Sébastien, Odoo provides numerous benefits for both teachers and students:
- Accessibility: Odoo's online platform is easily accessible and supports various devices, including smartphones. This flexibility is especially beneficial for schools with limited resources.
- Educational Support: Odoo provides free access for teachers and students for educational purposes, along with comprehensive documentation and webinars, which help teachers and students navigate more complex modules.
- User-Friendly Interface: Students appreciate Odoo's intuitive interface, which helps them quickly master key concepts.
- Pedagogical Flexibility: The platform supports varied teaching approaches, allowing students to explore different modules and understand the integration of various business applications within an ERP system.
As students advance, they install modules based on current needs, helping them understand the integration and functionality of different ERP applications.
Student Success and Professional Preparedness
Students gain a solid understanding of the principles of a single database, applications, workflows, business processes, and support. This comprehension of complex management concepts enables them to see how different business functions are interconnected. Many students who have used Odoo in their studies recommend its use in companies after graduation. The skills they acquire with Odoo make them proactive and valuable in the professional world.
Advice for Fellow Teachers
Sébastien encourages other teachers to embrace Odoo: "Do not be afraid to dive in. Use existing contexts, get your hands dirty (which isn't that messy 🙂), and let students explore. Students are often more comfortable with digital tools and can sometimes find solutions on their own."
Sébastien Henriot
Teacher at the Académie de Besançon in France
Bringing Odoo into the Classroom: A Teacher's Perspective