Inspire others with Genius Hour

         Last Thursday marked the presentations of our Genius Hour. We were divided into partners of our choice or groups of three individuals, and had to research a topic of exploration that interested us. Genius Hour signifies “a movement that 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” (Kesler 2013). Genius Hour is a new strategy that schools have been implementing in order to expand creative and intellectual abilities and research a topic through a skill-testing question. Personally, I have never experienced an assignment quite like Genius Hour, and I feel it was liberating. Finally, schools are beginning to understand that researching topics of interest fuel motivation within us. I was much more willing and determined to work on something I had interest in learning about, as opposed to something unavoidable from the curriculum. This type of thinking fuels meta-cognitive processes as students are inquired to think about the way they think. Thinking about the way they think relates to Genius Hour through the expansion of a single question that you – yourself or your group members created. "What is Genius Hour?" explains more details on how to partake in this task! Take the driver's seat and control what you want to learn!

            Our Genius Hour presentation focused on the effects that project-based learning had on motivation. Quite honestly in one of the studies we found that tested this theory, it was reported that motivational rates were increased because students found they were able to visualize themselves partaking in the task. As well, the third grade and sixth grade students in particular agreed that the tasks were fun and engaging. The study results explain, “These hands-on manipulatives in conjunction with cooperative groups had a positive impact on students’ confidence, therefore, improving their motivation to complete homework assignments” (Bartscher 41). When student interest is involved in the task, the expectations are that the student will strive to achieve higher value.

            Genius Hour is a great way to figure out the things that are most important to us. I believe that more schools should be open to the inclusion of this task. It is such a good idea to have students, for one day, choose what their assignment will be and in what direction they will take it. Teachers should be impressed by the results and project ideas that the students within their classroom can think of. If, to stay on track with the curriculum, teachers don’t feel that they can dedicate a timed lesson to let kids explore a topic of their choice, then they can modify Genius Hour. They can modify this assignment so that they are working under a larger category – kind of like a big question. Say for instance, the children are learning about the solar system in science class, for Genius Hour they will each choose a question of interest under that heading.

Genius Hour can be a collaborative or individual project that to me, no-doubt, instills confidence within students and encourages them to question the unknown. 

* The link for the study can be found below* 

http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED392549.pdf

 *Genius Hour website listed below*

http://www.geniushour.com/what-is-genius-hour/

Bartscher, Kathy. (1995). "Increasing Student Motivation Through Project-Based Learning". ERIC. p.41
Kesler, Chris. (2013, Mar. 29). "What is Genius Hour?"