20% Time

What is Genius Hour?

Genius Hour, sometimes called 20% Time, is based on Google and 3M corporations' ideas where they allow their employees 20% of their work time to work on projects of their own choosing. In our case, it is an opportunity for you to have control over what you learn for at least part of our class time. We will spend typically 1 day per week as often as possible to research, create and learn about the project of your choice. As part of this, you will be expected to document your experience. You will create a google site to not only help you document and share, the final product, but to chronicle the journey you have embarked on to reach your learning destination.

Why Genius Hour?

Genius Hour has been used in the business world as a way to boost creativity, motivation and ultimately production amongst their employees. Genius Hour is gaining popularity around the country as a means of giving students autonomy or freedom over their learning. I have learned about it this summer and I wanted to introduce this to you in an effort to provide you a say in your own learning and to inspire you to challenge yourself to expand your learning in a subject you are interested. You are encouraged to explore and inquire about the things that you are most interested in. The goal is for you to pursue a topic that you are passionate about and throughout the process, reflect on your learning experience.

Here are some examples of other students engaged in Genius Hour -

Here is a link from Melina Louise, a high school senior from LA who blogs about her Genius Hour experience.

Genius Hour Expectations-

What question do you want to learn more about?

What do you want to know more about?

Rule 1- Your project must be approved by me

Rule 2- Project must be researched

Rule 3- You must present and share

Overview

1. We will spend 1 class at least every other week on this project.

2. You will work individually on this project

3. Choose a project that is new to you and something that you wouldn't normally do in another academic class.

4. You must produce a product or achieve some sort of goal.

5. Write up a proposal and get approval - fill out the form above for your class

6. Reflect on the process weekly on a blog - this will either be on a google site, or a blogger site.

7. If, at any moment, you feel lost, overwhelmed, or uninspired, you must set up a meeting with me to find a solution.

8. At the end of the year, you will present your project and reflect on hte process in a 5 minute TED-style talk. (we will watch some examples)

9. Failure is an option. Simply learning from mistakes teaches you a lot. Failure to try is not an option!

FAIL = First Attempt In Learning

Stuck for a topic -- check out the following link, or do what I did - google genius hour projects.

Here is another link to ideas by high school students

30 day challenge -- another option for 20% time

A challenge could be to say something positive to 6 different people every day for the next 30 days. This is not telling someone I like your shirt, or haircut for the next 30 days, but move towards deeper compliments- I think you did a good job in your game last night, or I am glad you asked the question in class today, it helped me understand the concept better. You would chronicle the reactions of people, the struggles or ease at which you were able to complete the challenge. Think about what you are willing to do for 30 days and watch the video below!