Welcome Post - Genius Hour Introduction

Today in our Technology class, we started brainstorming and researching possible Genius Hour topics. This is the first I have heard about Genius Hour, and I am quite intrigued about the entire concept. Through my readings, I discovered that it is a concept that Google started with their employees. Google decided that they would allot their employees 20% of their time to research and investigate topics they are passionate about. What a great idea! They found the productivity of the company increased and so many interesting things came out of it, including some technologies that Google now uses (such as Gmail!). Of course, educators around the world got on the band wagon and began to incorporate it into their classrooms. Students were given opportunities to research topics that were of interest to them during the instructional day. In my school years, I was able to do a couple ISU (independent study units), but the topics of these always felt directed or suggested. In Genius Hour, students are able to research anything of their choosing, as long as it is appropriate and a topic they can collect research on.

I find this concept so interesting, but I have yet to see it in the classroom. But! Before I have to think about to teach or incorporate Genius Hour into my classroom, I get to create a Genius Hour! I am excited to get started! I have decided to connect back to my experiences with camp. I have been involved with Summer Camp, either as a counsellor or director, for seven years. It really has been my only job, and I have loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, this will be my last summer working for camps, as I need to be a student to be hired. So, as endings often do, I feel a sense of reflection is necessary. And, since my next transition will be into the teaching world, I want to see what aspects of camp can be taken with me and applied in the classroom. Sn many students share with me their love of camp, but they do not necessarily have the same type of fond memories of school. This is where my interest lies. I want to know where that disconnect is, and whether it is possible to incorporate the aspects and feelings children get at camp, to the classroom environment. Although I have just started researching, I have already found a few resources. Most are simply camp themed classrooms, which I do not necessarily want to focus on. But, the Institute of Play has an interesting website that I look forward to looking at more in depth.

Until next time!