Week 3- Genius Hour

Imagine walking into a classroom that allows students to explore their own passions and encourages creativity what would that look like. How would the classroom function and what would the daily schedule look like?
These are all great questions that you might find yourself asking about Genius Hour. According to GeniusHour.com this pedagogy provides students a choice in what they learn during a set period of time during school. Genius Hour is based on the principle Google uses that focuses on when people work on something that interested them productivity goes up. This same theory can be applied to education.
The same theory Google uses can be applied to education by setting a certain amount of time for students to do a project that interests them. The students then spend several weeks researching the topic and create a final project that is shared with their classmates. Deadlines are limited and creativity is encouraged.
According to Edutopia.org there are six basic tenets of personalized instruction.
1. Dude teacher role- It is important for teachers to monitor students progress of projects to ensure they are staying focused.
2. Learn about your students- Using Genius Hour will allow you to learn more about your students personality and their learning styles.
3. Create a culture of collaboration- Genius Hour allows students the opportunity to work alone or in groups
4. Create an interactive learning environment- Students work to create a presentation to present to the rest of the class.
5. Build flexible pacing, but with structure- Less structure as a teacher which allows students to be more independent
6. Create authentic Assessments- Reflections throughout project.

This video is an example of how Genius Hour is used in a 4th grade classroom.

Carter, N. (2014, August 4). Genius Hour and the 6 Essentials of Personalized Education . Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/genius-hour-essentials-personalized-education-nichole-carter

Genius Hour- Example of Personalized Learning in Action . (2017, December 17). Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiy0uzka1ds

What is Genius Hour? . (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2020, from http://geniushour.com/what-is-genius-hour/