High School Students Showcase Knowledge in ‘Genius Hour’ Project

In the halls of LaRue County High School, a unique initiative known as "Genius Hour" is empowering students to take the reins of their education.

This project allows Summer Garris’s high school students a chance to dive into a learning experience of their choice and present those topics to their peers.

Garris said the students will be assessed based on the product of their research, their processes to learn more about the topic, and their presentation to the class. The goal of the project is that by explaining their research to their peers, students can better understand the topic they’re covering. Other students can also learn more about topics they did not choose in an engaging, non-traditional way.

“They are able to plan, research, create, and reflect on a learning experience of their choice,” Garris explained. “It touches upon all of the competencies as well as course (English) standards.”

Departing from traditional curriculum confines, Genius Hour fosters a culture of curiosity and exploration in the classroom. The goal is to ignite a spark of intellectual curiosity among the participants. Genius Hour embodies the spirit of student-driven learning, offering a platform for voices to be heard and ideas to flourish.

Further, this learning style develops a sense of ownership in students’ learning journey. By choosing their topic, they take responsibility in a well-documented style of learning: learning by teaching. This approach allows a learner to place themselves in the position of teacher and in doing so, challenges them to think through how to explain the topic to others. From universities to The United States Department of Education this is recognized as a highly effective means of engaging students and comprehending new topics.

The Genius Hour project is part of the District’s Learner Profile initiative. It meets the criteria for Collaborative Communicator, Resilient Problem Solver, and Life-long Learner. Specifically, Genius Hour is part of the Vibrant Learning Experiences implemented across LaRue County Schools. Learning opportunities like Genius Hour fall under Project-Based Learning, an educational tool that gives students hands-on application of what they’ve learned in the classroom.