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What is Genius Hour?
What is Genius Hour?
The search-engine giant, Google, allows it’s engineers to spend 20% of their time to work on any pet project that they want. The idea is very simple. Allow people to work on something that interests them, and productivity will go up. Google’s policy has worked so well that it has been said that 50% of Google’s projects have been created during this creative time period.
In the context of education, Genius Hour allows students to explore their own passions and encourages creativity in the classroom. It provides students a choice in what they learn during a set period of time during school. It’s not easy to determine where the idea was originally created, but there are at least two events that have impacted genius hour.
Goals
to promote, support and model creative, innovative thinking and inventiveness
to allow students an opportunity to discover/investigate one of their passions and reflect on/share their learning with others
provide students and teachers an opportunity to develop skill sets that are valuable in any learning situation (research, experimentation, collaboration, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking)
The goal of Genius Hour is to engage students through inquiry problem solving and critical thinking. Many students are interested in science but may want to pursue a branch of science that is not covered during the typical class curriculum. Genius Hour allows students the flexibility to choose a topic, research the content that is necessary to learn about their topic, and then solve a problem or present about a topic they are passionate about without the constraints of the typical teacher driven instructional time.
In-Class Project
Genius Hour is a student-driven research project done at school and allotted 1 hour a week of class time. Students will be asked to select and pursue a science topic they feel passionate about. This project may be simply research-based or students may look into an answer to a problem, but each project will include a student generated question. Projects will be graded for participation and require an outcome at the end. Students will present their project to the class and create a version of their presentation that can be placed on the web and shared with others.
Stages of Genius Hour:
Brainstorm: Explore Topics & Generate a Question
Plan your Product & Predict Pitfalls
Make a Pitch
Contact an Expert
Answer your Question
Sounding Board Meeting
Back to the Drawing Board
Present your Genius
Grading: Weekly grading will be based on:
Weekly Genius Hour Check-In Forms Submitted
On Task during Genius Hour
Presenting your Pitch
Contacting an Expert
Presenting your Progress
Resources (Scaffolds)
Brainstorming Ideas Worksheet & Slideshow
Genius Hour Speed Dating Worksheet (v1 and v2)
GH Question Checklist Worksheet
Planning Your Product Worksheet
Genius Hour Purposed Project Form
What is a Pitch? Guidelines
Contacting an Expert Worksheet
Plan of Action Worksheet
Genius Hour Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement
Genius Hour Rules
1. See failure as a beginning, not an end.
2. Never stop learning.
3. Assume nothing, question everything.
4. Teach other's what you know.
5. Analyze objectively.
6. Practice humility.
7. Respect constructive criticism.
8. Give credit where it's due.
9. Take initiative.
10. As the tough questions early.
11. Love what you do or leave.
adapted from "Rules of a Scientist's Life"
Genius Hour Commandments
1 - You are either succeeding or you're learning.
2 - Think BIG.
3 - Solve a problem.
4 - Build GRIT. (Guts ~ Resilience ~ Integrity ~ Tenacity)
5 - Creativity takes time.
6 - Inspire others.
INSPIRATION
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