Rhya Wang / Staff reporter 

So far, from the end of 2019 to now, students have been studying online for almost 2 years, especially the younger students are lack of motivation to keep studying online, which gives a downside effect on early education.

To solve this issue, according to the “How giving kids a ‘Genius Hour’ can help increase motivation amid COVID-19” By Madison Wong, the parenting expert Sunny Verma said Genius hour can also use in the classroom besides the workplace. Google lets employees use Genius hour 20 percent of company-based initiatives, which is 1 hour per week for students. 

Verma said the genius hour is a let students do the passion project they choose, which shouldn’t like homework. Not only for inspiring their motivation of study, but also a chance to develop a new skill. 

“The search-engine giant, Google, allows its 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 20-time projects,” according to What a Genius hour?” From google.

Employees have 1 hour each week to work on a new idea or develop new skills, in school,  teachers usually provide a set amount o time for students to work on their “Genius hour” project which makes their passion. However, the common way wasn’t available anymore during the pandemic and working with classmates might not be allowed. But that doesn’t mean children can’t start their genius hour at home. 

To start younger student’s genius time, parents can have a conversation with their child to see what can actually interested in and lit u their eyes, as this kind of things can inspire their inner motivation. 

“If a student is doing Genius Hour in more than one class, they will more likely be able to make connections to what their learning and the real world. … the Genius hour is an effective tool for teachers to use to support students and keep them motivated,” according to “Implementing Genius Hour to Increase Student Motivation” by California State University San Marcos.

Genius hour is an opportunity for students to research what they want, as an important tool to support students and keep their initiative and motivation. Especially during the pandemic, students are tired of sitting in front of their laptops, genius hour should be popularized and used.  

Sources

How giving kids a ‘Genius Hour’ can help increase motivation amid COVID-19 by Madison Wong

”What is Genius Hour?”

Implementing Genius Hour to Increase Student Motivationby California State University San Marcos

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