Project-Based Learning: Using Genius Hour to Drive Success

Project-Based Learning: Using Genius Hour to Drive Success

HELD VIRTUALLY

Monday, July 10, 2025

7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

A 30 minute lunch break will be provided

Those repeating this workshop each new school year WILL RECEIVE CREDIT AGAIN as there is new content!

***School years go from July 1 - June 30***

$30 for Support Staff

$50 for NASA Members

$75 for Non-NASA Members

Kate Borrows

Kate Barrows is a Strobel Education consultant with extensive experience in a variety of diverse settings and roles.  She served in reading and English classrooms as a teacher and instructional leader for fifteen years and  a library media specialist for four years.  She recently completed the ESL endorsement program at University of Louisville and has presented at local, state, and national conferences about best practice in literacy for struggling adolescents. She is active in many facets of education including curriculum and standards development, assessment writing, PBL, and Inquiry Design. Specializing in at-risk populations, Kate brings both a sense of urgency and a great attitude to the table. Always rooting for the underdog, Kate isn’t afraid of a challenge.

Workshop Summary:

Strobel Education’s Project-Based Learning workshop equips educators to place students at the heart of real-world projects and tasks, helping them deepen their understanding of assorted subjects and hone essential skills through active engagement. The conventional instruction model gives way to a collaborative environment nurturing the students’ capacity for critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. In this sense, it emphasizes students applying their learned knowledge in authentic and significant forms, thereby sharpening skills instrumental for their prospective accomplishments.

This PBL training and resource-packed curriculum calls for fostering innovation, inspiring creativity, and cultivating critical thinking—skills that students will undoubtedly require to successfully navigate the 21st-century complexities of citizenship. This workshop shies away from the typical impulse to feel overwhelmed when initiating project-based learning; it instead hands you meticulously drafted lesson plans, sequential steps, engaging activities, and multi-modal learning resources necessary for creating effective project-based learning environments for your students.

You’ll learn how to:

• Cultivate creativity in the classroom
• Encourage debates, brainstorming, problem solving and group discussions
• Implement Project-Based Learning
• Increase students’ abilities to work independently, think critically and learn from failures
• Support student ownership of their learning

Every Pre K -12 educator works to provide learning activities that pose substantial cognitive challenges suitable for a diverse range of learners and intentionally utilize the cognitive abilities and skills of every student. The PBL strategies that participants will leave with will help them create approaches that enhance the retention of knowledge and skills, as students apply their learning to real-world situations. When students participate in metacognitive activities to enhance their comprehension and take ownership of their learning, it fosters student empowerment, encourages autonomy, cultivates self-confidence, mastery of skills, and a sense of purpose among students. Addressing challenges necessitates students to possess foundational skills such as reading, writing, and math, alongside 21st-century skills like teamwork, problem-solving, research gathering, time management, and proficient use of technology tools. All participants will help to ensure their students are equipped with this comprehensive skill set, and learn to become managers of their learning journey, under the guidance and mentorship of a skilled educator.

ALL are welcome, including anyone in a non-administrative position!

Participants will earn .5 credit (7.5 hours) toward license renewal!

This workshop ALSO counts for step advancement in Clark and most Nevada School Districts!

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In CCSD, those in non-administrative licensed positions may count this workshop for license renewal AND ALSO 2.5 CUs - THOSE IN NON-ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS EARN BOTH!

In CCSD, administrators and professional-technical administrators may count this workshop for license renewal OR 2.5 hours toward step-advancement - not both for administrators.

Washoe County participants will be required to also register for this course in "MyPGS" in order to receive in-service credit toward salary advancement.

Washoe County School District (WCSD) participants are required to submit a 300-word essay on how they will implement this professional learning to increase student achievement before a certificate is issued.