Passion Project
Assignment: Passion Project
"A quick thought about the disconnect between how we prepare kids for work and how work actually operates:
In school, problems almost always are clearly defined, confined to a single discipline, and have one right answer.
But in the workplace, they’re practically the opposite. Problems are usually poorly defined, multi-disciplinary, and have several possible answers, none of them perfect.
Are timed, standardized tests the way to ready youngsters for real-world problem-solving?"
-Daniel Pink
Genius Hour Origins: The search-engine giant, Google, allows it’s engineers to spend 20% of their time to work on any pet project that they want. The idea is very simple. Allow people to work on something that interests them, and productivity will go up. Google’s policy has worked so well that it has been said that 50% of Google’s projects have been created during this creative time period. Ever heard of Gmail or Google News? These projects are creations by passionate developers that blossomed from their their 20% time projects
"A quick thought about the disconnect between how we prepare kids for work and how work actually operates:
In school, problems almost always are clearly defined, confined to a single discipline, and have one right answer.
But in the workplace, they’re practically the opposite. Problems are usually poorly defined, multi-disciplinary, and have several possible answers, none of them perfect.
Are timed, standardized tests the way to ready youngsters for real-world problem-solving?"
-Daniel Pink
Genius Hour Origins: The search-engine giant, Google, allows it’s engineers to spend 20% of their time to work on any pet project that they want. The idea is very simple. Allow people to work on something that interests them, and productivity will go up. Google’s policy has worked so well that it has been said that 50% of Google’s projects have been created during this creative time period. Ever heard of Gmail or Google News? These projects are creations by passionate developers that blossomed from their their 20% time projects
- A pep talk from Kid President.
- A teacher explaining the importance of Genius hour.
- Now to choose your topic: After you choose your topic, you need to refine an inquiry/Genius hour question and think about what you will need to answer the question. It should not be a simple, yes or no question. It should require research and work to delve into. If you would prefer, think of this as a "Wonder Week" where you get to explore a burning question you've been wondering about.
- Remember, research and the creation of your project need not be done on computer. Researching from an Elder, or a parent, or a professional can work as well as computer/book/academic research.
- As a class, let's generate a list of topics or projects. WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT/DEVELOPING? Video: Launch Cycle Video: the Power of Passion
Some topics our class / other classes /past classes have come up with include:
-How to create a blow gun
-Re-build an Engine
-A website documenting how to create wooden bangles
-How to create a deer-skin drum
-How to skin a deer or prepare a bird from hunting to cooking to ceremonial/spiritual uses
-How to fix a porsche
-How to bake difficult items (baked Alaska)
-Working out/Exercising
-Sleep
-Smoking Meat (wild game)
-Parkour
-Video Games
-Happiness
-Grunge rock and Country and Hiphop
-How to help a friend with Depression
-Snowboarding
-How to spread and promote kindness
-Martial Arts demonstrations presented in an artistic (comic form)
-A website for how to speak basic Swahili
-Creating a fitness and diet plan to maximize muscle mass, lifting ability or to shred
As a class, we will decide on the presentation criteria. The means of demonstrating your learning journey should be something you can share with a larger audience. Will you document with video? Pictures? A Website? A Blog. How will you share your learning and your passion with the world? - Things to think about during EVERY single Passion Project Class
- What do you need from me (the teacher)?
- What’s your newest knowledge?
- What would you never do again?