Adapting Google's 20% time to my classroom

I read about something called 20% time at Google where employees are studying their own questions for 20% of their workweek.  Supposedly many innovations come from letting people follow their interests.  I can't even relate because I work in an industry where there are "scripted lesson plans" that tell you what to say, not just to give you the direction for your work.

Anyway...onto a more positive note.

I decided to take this urban legend of an idea and try it out in my own classroom.  I had three students who were finished and who wanted to "hang out" while all the others finished.  Instead I proposed they come up with something to do ala the Google 20% time.  My only boundary was that it had to fit into school learn somehow.

Honestly they had no idea what questions interested them.  They were stumped and frustrated.  And after quite a bit of letting them work on it, interjecting questions and trying to lead them....I suggested they might look at some creative websites for inspiration.  I suggested using the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio and Make. I love reading about all the cool things they do.

From looking over these sites, they chose Light Painting.

So I dug out my yearbook camera, the camera manual and suggested they print out the materials to read over.  Since the rest of the class was working on their library projects, we asked to borrow the backroom where all the equipment was kept as their painting studio.  It took them only a day to figure out how to re-set the camera's shutter and to trial and error some pretty neat shots.

For their light source, guess what they picked?

You betcha.  A cell phone....what else would a 2012 6th grader pick? 

So these are some of their paintings.  Now they've super excited and asking more questions.  NOW they are full of thier own unanswered questions.  NOW I have them hooked.  This will fuel many days of trying new ways and ideas.  Who knows where it will go.  But it will be fun and it will be their path.

I'm always looking for ways to get my students curious and interested in learning.  Maybe this 20% isn't a myth.  At least not in my classroom.   Wonder what the folks at Google would think of our implementation!

 

Comments

[Ron Davison]

Google's policy is to let certain designers / programmers / engineers dedicate an average of 20% of their schedule to self-defined projects.
This is so brilliant that you've adapted it to the classroom. Next step? You do it for everyone. That would be a fascinating experiment.
Kudos for doing this.

[Denise Yassine]

I am using the 20% model in my classroom with all of my fifth grade students. I began last year after hearing about the idea from our Middle School's Technology Integration Specialist. It is a wonderful time in my classroom. The hum is the kind of hum that all teachers love to hear. The hum of engagement. My students record their 20% experiences on their own Wiki page. We focus on finding something that they are passionate about, and balance the exploration with equal parts of play, make, and learn. Thank you for highlighting this experience with your students. I hope it spreads.