All About Me...
Hi, my name is Abby! I am currently 17 and a senior in high school. In the spring of 2015 I will graduate, however, I am undecided on a college and a major. At home I have two pets, a cat named Bliz Cat and a dog named Tobias. My favorite food is chocolate and I do not have a favorite color.
For my genius hour project I plan to create a website focusing on the brain, particularly, regions and functions. I hope to help people; whether they have their own project about the brain or maybe they would just like to gain a bit more knowledge. After I have compiled enough information I will create a page on my Genius Hour Weebly page so that anyone can take a look.
My second Genius Hour project will focus on learning a new language. I plan on traveling to Costa Rica this summer so I would like to be able to communicate with the locals. I hope my Genius Hour project will help me reach my goal.
For my genius hour project I plan to create a website focusing on the brain, particularly, regions and functions. I hope to help people; whether they have their own project about the brain or maybe they would just like to gain a bit more knowledge. After I have compiled enough information I will create a page on my Genius Hour Weebly page so that anyone can take a look.
My second Genius Hour project will focus on learning a new language. I plan on traveling to Costa Rica this summer so I would like to be able to communicate with the locals. I hope my Genius Hour project will help me reach my goal.
Genius Hour Semester 2 Reflection and Evaluation
Abby Burgess
Learning a New Language
I decided to do my Genius Hour Project on learning a new language. I downloaded the app Duolingo and researched tips for learning a new language.
I began my Genius Hour Project a bit before the second semester. I was talking to my guidance counselor about taking another Spanish course and she suggested I try the app Duolingo instead. As it turned out Duolingo changed the game, I for some reason, grasped sentence structure and vocabulary quicker and more easily than I did in my actual Spanish class. After about a week using Duolingo Mrs. Sutton told the class we were to create another Genius Hour Project, I instantly knew I would focus my project on learning a new language, specifically Spanish.
When I started making my Genius Hour Project I used Duolingo as my main resource. Duolingo was different though, I was not really researching anything but more or less, studying. I found what was working and was was not working; what I realized was that learning a language takes time and a whole lot of effort. Before Genius Hour I was in a rush to try to comprehend Spanish but now I know that I have to be patient and consistent in my studying. Later, toward the end of the year I looked up websites that specialized in study tips and learning a new language. I found some common sense tips but also some fascinating ideas for keeping up with a foreign language. If you are interested I have all the tips posted in my Genius Hour page.
For the last leg of my project I decided to share my findings with the KHS Spanish students. I talked to the Spanish teacher and she thought it would be a great idea to use my findings as a study guide; she plans to post it to her weebly page. Genius Hour was a complete nightmare to me in the beginning but as time went on I realized that Genius Hour was a fun way to learn new material and share your findings.
During the beginning of Genius Hour I was doing the project just for myself. I was planning to go to Costa Rica so I wanted to speak to the locals, I planned to study Spanish in college, and I just found learning Spanish to be helpful in life. However, as time passed I decided my research and findings could benefit others, especially kids who were already in the process of learning Spanish. I talked to Mrs. Sutton and we brainstormed ideas on how to share my findings; we came up with a great but simple solution, posting my work onto Senorita Bal’s lesson plans. After talking to Senorita she confirmed that my Genius Hour Project would be a perfect fit for her study resources.
I created a simple word document with bulleted lists of tips I found to be helpful when learning a new language. I hope my project will help kids who are struggling to learn a new language, I know it helped me! I want students to see my project and think Wow that really helped me learn Spanish. I know that I focused on learning Spanish but my Genius Hour Project could help anyone, not only students, learn any language.
At first, Genius Hour was a nightmare, I absolutely hated working on my project. I would procrastinate until the last second. I would look at other work to see what other people were doing, I was not creative. I would just dread Genius Hour every friday. As time went on, though, I realized that Genius Hour was here to stay. I began putting more effort into my work. I created unique projects, and I began to see what Genius Hour was all about. My work gradually began to change as I gradually began to like Genius Hour.
As my work changed with my attitude I fully realized what Genius Hour encompassed. Genius Hour was not only about learning yourself but about sharing what you have learned. I wish I would have realized it sooner; I could actually help others. I also wish that I would have put more effort in my projects to make them the best they could be. On of the major regrets I have is not liking Genius Hour from the start, if I had actually liked it I would not have dreaded every Genius Hour assignment.
Throughout my Genius Hour Project I had ups and I had downs. I am proud that I was able to manage my time well, even though I did procrastinate. I also completed my project within the deadline and, I think, my project turned out pretty well. All in all, my Genius Hour Project was a success. Notably, I am excited I competed my Genius Hour Project, not only for myself, but for others.
During the end of the semester it really hit me that my Genius Hour Project was coming to an end. I would have to say that my biggest accomplishment would be just finishing the project. The project itself was not too difficult to complete but I felt that my finished project was not only helpful, but useful.