BCPS Lighthouse Schools
  • Home
  • Schools
  • Reflections
  • Journeys
  • Learning
    • Learner-Centered Environments
    • Nights of Innovation
    • Summer Institutes
  • Press
  • #BCPSLH

Opening the World of Inquiry and Technology through Genius Hour

1/18/2017

0 Comments

 
​Submitted by Niamh McQuillan 
S.T.A.T. Teacher, 
Windsor Mill Middle
Picture
​Mr. Park, 8th grade ELA teacher at Windsor Mill Middle School, opened the world of inquiry and technology to his students in the form of Genius Hour, a movement that provides students the opportunity to explore their interests and passions. Tech firm, Google, a leader in the movement, allows its employees to spend 20% of their time pursuing an idea that inspires them. More than half of their new products have been generated as a result of the practice. Gmail and Google news are just two examples of the fruits of Google’s Genius Hour. Google’s philosophy is simple: give people time to work on an idea that interests them, and productivity will go up.  Mr. Park brought the philosophy into his classroom by providing students the time and structure to pursue a question they had. Students delved into issues about mental and emotional health and race relations. Park videotaped students presenting the ‘first draft’ of their presentations and sent them the link, pairing it with a rubric for self-assessment. Using their personal videos, students critiqued their performances and reworked their projects and presentations as needed. The Genius Hour projects have has taken on a life of their own; Windsor Mill students will use the research discovered by a student on anger as the text for an upcoming school-wide Socratic Seminar.  
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Reflections from teachers, administrators, and students at the Lighthouse Schools.

    Categories

    All
    Administrator
    Art
    Community Engagement
    Counselor
    Digital Citizenship
    Digital Tools
    Flipped Learning
    Language Arts
    Learner Centered Environment
    Maker Learning
    Math
    Music
    Personalized Learning
    Physical Education
    Professional Development
    Project Based Learning
    Real World Connections
    Research Skills
    Science
    Small Group Instruction
    Social Studies
    Student
    Teacher
    Technology

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

Team BCPS Logo

© 2015 Baltimore County Public Schools. All rights reserved. 

Proudly powered by Weebly