TL;DR: Genius Hour is a powerful way to keep students engaged and excited. By allowing students to explore their passions, conduct research, and create something meaningful, Genius Hour unleashes their potential and fosters a love for learning. Reflecting on the experience and sharing their projects with others enhances students’ self-awareness, growth, and presentation skills. Genius Hour provides a high-engagement unit … Read More
Making the Most of the First 5 Minutes
TL;DR: Educators want their students excited about their content but it can be challenging when you struggle with low energy and engagement. Focus on the first five minutes of each class, incorporating fun games and activities to create enthusiasm. Other ideas to maintain the focus on those initial minutes include upbeat music, greetings, and engaging questions, which results in increased … Read More
Driving Home Conservation Matters with Gamification
TL;DR: Gamification can increase student engagement in learning by incorporating game mechanics into educational activities. By aligning key content with the core drives of gamification, educators can create meaningful lessons that connect to difficult topics such as conservation. A practical example is using a game to teach students about the impact of habitat loss on orangutans and biodiversity, where students … Read More
Maximizing Productivity for Educators with Side Hustles
TL;DR: The Eisenhower Matrix is a time management tool that helps prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. It categorizes tasks into four quadrants: Important and Urgent, Important but Not Urgent, Not Important but Urgent, and Not Important and Not Urgent. By focusing on Quadrant II activities (Important but Not Urgent), educators can work proactively on tasks that contribute to … Read More
Learner Agency: Teaching The Art of Agility
TL;DR: Learner agency empowers students through student voice, choice, innovation, and authentic tasks, allowing them to take ownership of their learning. Teachers can create opportunities for learner agency by implementing strategies such as project-based learning, arts education, communication, problem-solving, and reflection. Learner agency enables students to set goals, reflect on their progress, and transfer their understanding in new situations, developing … Read More