This presentation was given May 3, 2013 at the Secondary Convention hosted by the Surrey Teachers Association. It is based on my first year experiences with Genius Hour (aka 20% time) in my Humanities 8 and English 10 classes. My process is still evolving and I encourage everyone to give it a try!

1. What is Genius Hour?
How can it enhance your secondary classroom?
By Valerie Lees
And Marilyn Sun
#staconvention2013
May 3, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgGyWSXWxT0&feature=youtu.be

2. I am in my 17th year of teaching
My background
a BA in English Lit. and History
BEd. (elementary intermediate) with concentration in
Math and Science Ed.
MEd. in Curriculum and Instruction
Connected Educator: @v_lees
Blogs: www.fhlearn.ca/vlees (school wordpress)
*class blogs connected to fhlearn (blogspot)
Who am I?

4. Main teaching experience:
Hum 8 & 9
En 8-11
SS 8-11, Law 12
Part time LST
Experience in both linear and semester systems
Excited to be starting a new course next year:
 Project Design and Development
 Based on Genius Hour

5. Co-presenter
Fraser Heights’
Grade 10 English Student
Marilyn Sun
One of my many inspirations….

6. How did I learn of Genius Hour?

7. http://www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/2012/oct/04/google-20-percent-time-schools

8. What is an Edcamp?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EdCamp

9. http://geniushour.wikispaces.com/
Moderators
@gallit_z (Surrey)
@mrsdkrebs (Iowa)
@joykirr (Illinois)
#geniushour

11. Student
Centred
Reading
and Writing
Presenting
Researching
Creativity
Technology
embedded
Reflecting
Collaborating

12. http://springmd.rockyview.ab.ca/assets/21stCentury.jpg

13. http://burnabysouthadmin.files.wordpress.com/20
10/11/21st-century-learning.jpg

14. How do I Start?
The Sales Pitch
http://dlsusales.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/gat-a-mac-sales-pitch.jpg

15. Caine’s Arcade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq9
6U
Caine’s Arcade Chapter 2:
The Beginning of a Movement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul9c-4dX4Hk
Creativity Takes Time (2 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgvx9OfZKJw
Inspiration

16. Obvious to you, amazing to others – Derek Sivers (2
min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMsNbmADHBU
A Pep Talk from Kid President (4 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o
More Inspiration

17. Brainstorming
What have you always wondered about?
What new skill would you like to learn?
What problem(s) would you
like to solve?
Is there something you have
always wanted to build? Or
redesign to improve?

18. Nightline: The Deep Dive (8 min)
IDEO Shopping Cart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M66ZU2PCIcM
Nightline: The Deep Dive (20 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taJOV-YCieI
Process: Inquiry & Collaboration Skills

19. Research based
• Non-”Google-able”
• If “answer” is easy to find,
then change what you do
with your information
Personal
• Meaningful to you / audience
• Reflections & self-assessment
Develops skills
• Involves problem solving
• Allows for creativity
Allows for collaboration
• Peer-review
• Team work
A good inquiry /
exploration is…

20. Local and Global Awareness
• How can we solve our traffic pick-up and drop off problems at
FH?
• How can Surrey lessen its environmental impact on urban
expansion?
• What are some of the current conflicts between China and
Japan, their historical influences and why should students care?
• What is going on in Syria and is there anything we can do about
the turmoil?

21. Creative Endeavours
• Create a dance fusion video that blends
traditional Chinese cultural dances with more
modern hip hop / break dancing to appeal to a
more modern teen audience
• Create an imovie to demonstrate how to care
for a horse (imovie is a new skill for this group)
• Create a music video
• Critique various BMX bikes for various uses
• Create a “How To” Video to learn how to build
and take apart a bike
• Write, perform and share spoken word poetry

22. Why and how we sneeze and what effects does it
have on us? Why do people sneeze differently?
How does a self-help author inspire their audience?
How closely related are chimpanzees and humans?
How does chemotherapy work and why doesn’t it
always work?
As a runner, what is it like to be the trainer?
How can Surrey become a tourist destination?
Wondering….

23. develop a video game using particular software
create an app
How do bar codes work and can we make one?
How does astral projection work?
How stuff works?

24. The Proposal Process
***Still in progress***
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B40ZnNS79fG6bzd0c2xQck9xNGs/edit?usp=sharing

25. Sample by Marilyn Sun (sem 1)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B40ZnNS79fG6RTJDS2psLXUtMUk/edit?usp=sharing

26. Feedback
(oral/written &
formative)
Support
CriteriaClarify
Conference

28. Log your process…

29. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bwOO1lefhS7V1xKDmYx1mjfo8gWGKNhbYYHqjhC
7Nr0/edit?usp=sharing

30. Based on student generated specifications (aka
criteria) outlined in their proposal
This semester I am having students design their own
rubric
May be in any form:
Survey
Oral feedback
Rubric
May occur:
When students are “stuck” and need help problem-
solving
Just prior to presenting
Peer Review
By 5 peers – 2 min from class

31. Peer Critique: Concrete, Specific, Constructive

32. Austin’s Butterfly: Critique and feedback w/kids
– Ron Berger (7 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded
&v=hqh1MRWZjms
Austin’s butterfly (shorter version 4 min) – Ron Berger
presenting to school board
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded
&v=hqh1MRWZjms
Links for Austin’s Butterfly
by Ron Berger

33. Present and Share
http://www.banffcentre.ca/conferences/creative_team_options/images/powerful-presentations.jpg

34. Metacognition:
Essential for the
Articulation of
Learning
illuminations.nctm.org

35. Student Perspectives
& …
thatssodad.blogspot.com

36. Expect –
Some discomfort and challenges along the way–
learning is messy!
Not to know everything
To learn with the students
To build a strong, supportive and collaborative
environment
To empower kids
To have fun!
My HS Genius Hour Process is still
evolving…

37. Do kids set own deadlines for presenting?
Ideally yes – realistically, set your own class goal and
you may need to set a deadline. The first presentation
is always the hardest.
Do some students need more support than others?
Of course.
Do you let kids decide on groups or individual projects?
Both.
FAQs

38. More Resources via @Joykirr Genius Hour Livebinder