What are Passion Projects?
Have you ever had an idea? Have you ever wondered, how do they do that? Or, how can I help out? What can I do to make a difference? How can I learn something new that I am interested in?
According to geniushour.com (retrieved May 2, 2017) Genius hour is 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. It’s not easy to determine where the idea was originally created, but there are at least two events that have impacted genius hour.
According to geniushour.com (retrieved May 2, 2017) Genius hour is 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. It’s not easy to determine where the idea was originally created, but there are at least two events that have impacted genius hour.
A Message from Mr. Bergman
Hello,
I have introduced Genius Hour/Passion Projects to each student.
I have introduced Genius Hour/Passion Projects to each student.
My main goal is for each student to think "outside the box" and Learn Something New about their chosen topic.
Genius Hour can best be described as: The search-engine giant, Google, allows its engineers to spend 20% of their time working on any “pet” project that they want. The idea is very simple, allow people to work on something that interests them, and productivity will go up. Google’s policy has worked so well that it has been said that 50% of Google’s projects have been created during this creative time period. Ever heard of Gmail or Google News? These projects are creations by passionate developers that blossomed from their 20%-time projects.
At the end of the day (2:15-2:45), the students are given approximately 30 minutes to research/investigate a question/problem of their choice. With the help of various staff members, we are encouraging students to “dive deep” into their question. I know this seems out of the ordinary to normal school projects, but it allows students to utilize a variety of research skills.
At the end of the day (2:15-2:45), the students are given approximately 30 minutes to research/investigate a question/problem of their choice. With the help of various staff members, we are encouraging students to “dive deep” into their question. I know this seems out of the ordinary to normal school projects, but it allows students to utilize a variety of research skills.
Goals of our project
- to promote, support, and model creative, innovative thinking and inventiveness
- to allow students an opportunity to discover/investigate one of their passions and reflect on/share their learning with others
- provide students and teachers an opportunity to develop skill sets that are valuable in any learning situation (research, experimentation, collaboration, creativity, problem solving and critical/creative thinking)
- at the end of the time, I want them to have made/shared something they LEARNED
- In the end, the students will answer these questions…..
- What is your project?
- Who will work with you on this project?
What do you expect to learn from this project?
- What will you have to show at the end of the course?
- What sort of equipment will you need and where will you get it?
- Why did you choose this question about your PASSION?
- What did you learn from this project?
How does this fit with our curriculum?
Genius Hour/Passion Projects is really twofold: Students get to pick something they are passionate about to research and their project and the presentation naturally ties in with a number of curriculum objectives and expectations!
As a parent, how can I help?
There are many ways to help. As students dive into their projects, they will need help expanding their ideas and finding resources. Discussing your child’s ideas and finding some great resources will be extremely important. In addition, while we will provide some basic resources and technology, students may need more specific items that we may not be able to provide. Within reason, helping your child bring together the materials they need will assist your child’s success with their project. Please keep in mind that Genius Hour will continue until the end of the year.
Some students may have the opportunity to visit the campuses of other Little Falls Community Schools to further their learning.
For example, some students might venture to the high school so explore the technology, wood shop, automotive, music departments. If this is a possibility, details/permission will be asked.
I am excited to share this opportunity with your child and I will most likely need to “tweak” things along the way as I embark on this new adventure of learning.
I am excited to share this opportunity with your child and I will most likely need to “tweak” things along the way as I embark on this new adventure of learning.
Student questions/project as of April 20th, 2017...
- What are the components of a computer and how do computers works?
- How was Play-Doh created and what’s it made of?
- How do microphones work?
- What is plastic made out of?
- Why do people have different colored irises?
- What is color deficiencies? How do we see colors?
- How does bluetooth work?
- How do V8 engines work?
- How are wood bats made? Why do they choose certain woods?
- How do animals understand what we are saying?
- How do 3d printers work/uses?
- How do nuclear disasters happen?
- How does a go-kart clutch work?
- How does a piano create sound?
- How do I create space on a counter and keep chips from getting stale?
- Where do earthquakes occur most and why?
- How were Lego’s created?
- How do touchscreens work?