If you could change one thing about your school, what would you do?
This is not your ordinary, out-of-the-box idea. It's one that requires time, restraint, trust, and a whole lot of genius. Last year we collaborated on a project that put our students at the center of the learning, challenging them to see a problem in the school, determine solutions, put ideas into action, and share the results with the school and education community at large.
That project was career-changing for Sherry and me. Once we caught a glimpse of what kids could do if we just got out of their way and let them explore and discover, there was no turning back.
We saw their genius and it changed us.
This year we're inviting it to change you. We're organizing the first ever GeniusCon, and virtual conference inspired by Genius Hour to celebrate the amazing solutions kids find to the problems faced in our schools. In May we will coordinate Google Hangouts connecting classrooms in every level of education from Kindergarten and PreSchool through high school and, perhaps, even some college classes to hear the ways kids of all ages are using their genius to make the world better.
The idea is simple.
We're asking our kids, If you could change one thing about your school, what would you do?
There are lots of ways to approach the project, but we recognize that the first step is often the most difficult. Here are a number of resources that might help you get started.
Our mission is support. If you don't feel like you have the support necessary to take this on, let us know. We are going to help you make this happen!
Let's show the world our genius!
This is not your ordinary, out-of-the-box idea. It's one that requires time, restraint, trust, and a whole lot of genius. Last year we collaborated on a project that put our students at the center of the learning, challenging them to see a problem in the school, determine solutions, put ideas into action, and share the results with the school and education community at large.
That project was career-changing for Sherry and me. Once we caught a glimpse of what kids could do if we just got out of their way and let them explore and discover, there was no turning back.
We saw their genius and it changed us.
This year we're inviting it to change you. We're organizing the first ever GeniusCon, and virtual conference inspired by Genius Hour to celebrate the amazing solutions kids find to the problems faced in our schools. In May we will coordinate Google Hangouts connecting classrooms in every level of education from Kindergarten and PreSchool through high school and, perhaps, even some college classes to hear the ways kids of all ages are using their genius to make the world better.
The idea is simple.
We're asking our kids, If you could change one thing about your school, what would you do?
There are lots of ways to approach the project, but we recognize that the first step is often the most difficult. Here are a number of resources that might help you get started.
- Blog post about introducing GeniusCon (via the SLJ NeverEnding Search blog) - Click HERE.
- Podcast about Earth Pals and GeniusCon (via ElementaryLibrarian.com) - Click HERE.
- Article about GeniusCon entitled "What if kids hold the solutions to our biggest problems?" (via ISTE blog) - Click HERE.
- GeniusCon webinar (via TL Virtual Cafe on Monday, Feb. 3rd, 2014) - Click HERE.
- GeniusCon Edmodo Group (group code ru9b7d) - Click HERE.
Our mission is support. If you don't feel like you have the support necessary to take this on, let us know. We are going to help you make this happen!
Let's show the world our genius!