Project Based Learning
Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge.
Can Schools Change Measures of Success by Focusing on Meaningful Work Instead of Test Scores?
A recent example of Project Based Learning at
Ephrata Area School District....
Genius Hour
Highland Elementary School students will continue their Genius Hour creativity into the 2016-2017 school year and beyond. Lisa Peters introduced Genius Hour to her third-grade students last school year. She intends to implement and grow the program to additional grades this year. Inspired by Google, who allows their engineers to spend 20% of their time to work on any pet project they want, students similarly work on a Genius Hour project of particular interest to them to improve engagement, productivity, and more. Students choose a topic, develop research questions, and create a public presentation.
“Last year, there was an array of projects, from students who created and sewed their own clothing, baked a cake, created a volcano, designed a working scooter, and so much more,” commented Peters.
Google estimates Genius Hour has worked so well that 50% of Google’s projects have been created during this creative time period, including Gmail and Google News.
Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge.
Can Schools Change Measures of Success by Focusing on Meaningful Work Instead of Test Scores?
A recent example of Project Based Learning at
Ephrata Area School District....
Genius Hour
Highland Elementary School students will continue their Genius Hour creativity into the 2016-2017 school year and beyond. Lisa Peters introduced Genius Hour to her third-grade students last school year. She intends to implement and grow the program to additional grades this year. Inspired by Google, who allows their engineers to spend 20% of their time to work on any pet project they want, students similarly work on a Genius Hour project of particular interest to them to improve engagement, productivity, and more. Students choose a topic, develop research questions, and create a public presentation.
“Last year, there was an array of projects, from students who created and sewed their own clothing, baked a cake, created a volcano, designed a working scooter, and so much more,” commented Peters.
Google estimates Genius Hour has worked so well that 50% of Google’s projects have been created during this creative time period, including Gmail and Google News.