What is Genius Hour?
How do companies like Google come up with the amazing things they do? It may be as simple as being given time to be creative and explore new options. Google is famous for its "20% Time" concept, which has been adopted by many corporate businesses. Here's how Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin describe it: "We encourage our employees, in addition to their regular projects, to spend 20% of their time working on what they think will most benefit Google. This empowers them to be more creative and innovative. Many of our significant advances have happened in this manner." Rumor has it that huge successes like Google News and Gmail were born out of time designated to innovation.
20% Time has made its way into education, rebranded as "Genius Hour". It can be time given to teachers to research and develop new and innovative teaching practices or can be taken to the students - giving them an hour a week to work on any project that interests and challenges them.
This course will focus on preparing and implementing Genius Hour with your students. See Genius Hour for Teachers for a guide through your own project for professional growth.
Implementing a student Genius Hour is a major undertaking. Send me a quick email to let me know you've accepted that challenge so I can support you. Include anything you need from me, even if it is just an extra body for your first day to help manage everything. I'd love to see your students in action if you're willing to let me stop by.
Get your badge and PGP Certificate!
- PGP hours for Genius Hour vary depending on the time it takes you personally to put this together and implement it in your classroom.
- Submit this form when you have finished researching, planning, and implementing the first round of Genius Hour projects with your students (when at least half of your class has presented their projects)
(Sorry.... these are only available to Southwest Parke staff.)
Additional Resources
Video Tutorials
Helpful Links & Info
Experienced Users
Rachel Porter