Class Projects

Genius Hour: Students began their Genius Hour projects this week. The Genius Hour is based on an idea pursued by Google. The employees working in the development department are allotted 20% of their work time to pursue a personal passion. The goal is to increase engagement, productivity and creativity within the company. Research done in a variety of fields has supported this outcome.

The international trend in education is towards individualized, skill-based project learning. It is no longer about knowing the "right" answer but how can I find the answer using all the technology tools available. As a result, the Victoria School District has awarded a number of research grants for schools to pursue the concept of project based learning and implement strategies in the classroom in a meaningful manner.

There are a number of classes participating in the research project at Glanford in the form of the Genius Hour. Students will investigate and research something they are passionate about for 1 class block a week, creativity is the only limit here. With teacher support, they will learn how to: create and execute a research plan; synthesize information from a variety of sources to make sense; communicate their ideas in a coherent manner; and develop skills of time management to meet a deadline.

Each topic will vary greatly depending on student interests but the skills needed to be successful are important to any endeavor. It is the skills that will be assessed as part of the Socials and LA curriculum and not the content or final product. Specifically, the skills are: ability to create and execute a plan effectively; time management; ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources and ability to communicate ideas (in a variety of medium).

The students are very excited about this project and I am looking forward to walking along side them through this experience. Don't be surprised if they ask for unusual supplies, resources or help in finding answers to burning questions. It shall be an interesting 10 weeks.

If you have questions please contact me by phone or email. Thank you for your support in this new adventure.