Engagement
Increase engagement with student-led choices.
Creativity
Encourage creativity with student passion and interest.
Standards-Based
Integrate standards into any genius hour work or project.
Workshop Overview
Genius Hour is taking the teacher professional development world by storm! It’s a movement that unlocks student achievement as it allows each student to explore their own passions and interests and encourages creativity in the classroom by providing students a choice in what they learn during a set period of the school week.
The Genius Hour concept is based on one of Google’s practices: they encourage that 20% of their employees’ work week be spent researching, investigating, and exploring a topic or passion of personal interest, one that is not directly tied to their job description but in line with the mission of the company. As a result, they’ve found that 50% of their best ideas come from that 20% of independent work.
It is our job as educators to encourage critical thinking and inspire creativity—skills that are needed for the 21st century learner. It is no longer about compliantly sticking to a scheduled curriculum of memorization and recall. Learners come alive in Genius Hour, motivation levels skyrocket, and students are completely engaged.
The future belongs to creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers, artists, inventors, designers, storytellers, innovators, and big picture thinkers—and Genius Hour is where it can all begin. With Genius Hour, your curriculum and academic standards are easily integrated.
Genius Hour Flyer
For more information, download this pdf.
Can’t make the live workshop?
Enroll in our online education course for PD training anytime, anywhere!
Learning Outcomes
Discover how to transform your classroom into a place where students want to come in and learn—where creativity and motivation flourish.
Participants in this workshop will discover:
- Why we need to transform our troubled education system
- Understanding how real students learn & how great schools work
- Education Evolution: Recognizing the importance of new skills, talents, and passions
- Putting value back on students’ “non-traditional” skills
- The 6 elements today’s learner needs
- Setting up Genius Hour time in your classroom
- Learning the structure of Genius Hour and implementation strategies
- The research behind choice and inquiry-based education
- Why Genius Hour is important—for students and teachers
- Strategies for teaching students to explore their passions
- Bringing MOTIVATION, ENGAGEMENT, CREATIVITY, and PLAY back to the classroom
- Guiding students through the Genius Hour process
- Brainstorming with passion boards and wonder walls
- Setting up a learning environment that inspires students
- Establishing expectations and ground rules
- Teaching self-assessment through proposals and timelines
- Tracking student progress
- Managing learners at different stages of the process
- Connecting your standards and curriculum to Genius Hour
- Planning and accountability for students and teachers
- Assessing student work
- Utilizing rubrics that drive revision and feedback
Who Should Attend?
- K-12 English-Language Arts Teachers
- K-12 Content-Area Teachers
- Literacy coaches and coordinators
- Title I teachers and directors
- ELL teachers
- Special education teachers
- K-12 gifted and talented teachers
- K-12 administrators (Principals, Assistant Principals, Curriculum Directors)
Download Course Flyer
PRICING
Early Bird Pricing $189*
Early bird discount! Register 15 days in advance.
Standard Price $209
Register here today or send an email to your team.
DISCOUNTS
- Early bird discount! Register 15 days in advance.
- Send a Team & SAVE!
- 5% OFF groups of 3-9 registrants (per day)
- 10% OFF groups of 10 or more registrants (per day)
- For room reservations, please mention “Strobel Education” to receive a discounted rate.
- Administrators attend FREE!
With paid registration of at least one staff member, ONE administrator (building principal, assistant principal, curriculum director, or superintendent) may attend workshop at no charge. (Registration is still required and substitutions are not permitted.)
Presenters
“Absolutely awesome! Unlike other workshops, Strobel Education makes the material easy to understand and implement quickly into your instruction. Kim is a wonderful person and an awesome presenter.”
– Dana Campbell, 4th Grade Teacher, Sharon Elementary School
Continuing Education Credit/PGP
Participants may receive credit for 6 hours of professional development for each one-day workshop.
At the conclusion of the day, or after online evaluations have been completed, attendees will receive a certificate of completion which can be used to verify attendance.
LOCATIONS
Nashville, TN • March 31, 2020
KIm Strobel @ Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville Hendersonville
Indianapolis, IN • November 5, 2020
KIm Strobel @ Location TBD
Huntingburg, IN • November 10, 2020
KIm Strobel @ Location TBD
Merrillville, IN • November 12, 2020
Jamie Guillaume @ Location TBD
Louisville, KY • November 17, 2020
KIm Strobel @ Location TBD
Columbus, OH • November 19, 2020
Jamie Guillaume @ Location TBD