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What is a "Genius Hour"?

-Genius Hour is a designated time during the school day to engage students in inquiry based learning on a topic of their choosing

-Students explore and create projects on a topic individualized to themselves and their own interests

-At the end of their inquiry, students present their project in a creative way of their own choosing!

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You Get to Have Your Own Genius Hour (A Video for Students)

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- Genius hour provides students with some freedom in their learning

-It promotes collaboration and risk taking

-Students learn to investigate and research topics on their own, promoting independence and life-long learners

- Each student gets to create their own individualized learning plan. They can research the way they want to, present the way they want to and choose a topic that they are interested in exploring. Not only is this providing differentiated learning experiences, but it is helping the student discover how they learn and how to motivate themselves to achieve their own goals

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How can podcasts be used in the classroom?

- Rather than traditional writing assignments, or essay work, students can create a podcast

-Students collaborate and discuss topics related to course work, learn to create interesting arguments and reflect on important content

-Students can use podcasts to inquire about topics they are interested in, report their findings, and discuss implications of their findings/ideas

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-Podcasts can help students develop their own ideas and opinions on certain topics and classroom content

-Podcasts allow for a different mode of presenting learned knowledge. It allows students who struggle with writing the opportunity to express their ideas and engage in classroom content with their peers

-Podcasts make information and content readily available for all students, including students in other classes or even schools! Students can listen to each others creations in and outside of the classroom environment

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5 Reasons to Pilot Student Podcasting Projects

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Podcasts are a great way for students to deliver their acquired content knowledge in a new technological way!

By using podcasts, educators are replacing the traditional method of pen and paper reflections and essay writing

Genius hour entirely replaces traditional methods of teaching. The student directs their own learning and uses a technology of their own choice to customize their individual learning experience

Both methods allow for a learning experience that are tailored to the Universal Design for Learning. Students can gravitate towards learning styles and methods that allow them to express themselves creatively