Great Jones - Shop now
$9.97 with 60 percent savings
Print List Price: $24.95

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Don Wettrick
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation and Taking 20% Time to the Next Level Kindle Edition

by Don Wettrick (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 109 ratings
You've heard the complaints too many times: When am I ever going to use this in the real world? Why are we learning this? When are we going to learn about something interesting? But what if your students came to class excited? What if they were passionate about their projects? What if they grasped the connection between today's work and tomorrow's careers? In classrooms across the nation, innovative teachers are employing passion-based, open-source learning to improve their student's education. In Pure Genius, Don Wettrick encourages teachers and administrators to collaborate--with experts, students, and one another--to create interesting, and even life-changing opportunities for learning. You'll discover: Innovation brings a fresh approach to solving real problems Creative ways to work within the constraints your current budget and system Courses that offer relevant content can inspire students to learn beyond the classroom Collaborating with experts and mentors improves the learning experience for students and teachers Students must be taught and entrusted to appropriately use social media Social media is an incredible resource for inspiration and professional development Innovation is the key to equipping today's students for tomorrow's marketplace. By incorporating the concepts Don explains in Pure Genius, you can empower the next generation to be free thinkers who can create new concepts and products that can change the way we live.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    170 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 4, 2014
  4. File size
    1.6 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Can school be a place where risk-taking and creativity flourish? Don Wettrick offers and emphatic "yes" -- and shows how he's done it. Wettrick has incorporated a range of creativity-generating concepts into his teaching and turned his classroom into an innovation factory. This book teaches you how to do the same and still maintain rigorous educational standards. You'll be amazed by his students' accomplishments and eager to put his ideas into practice."
-- Daniel Pink, author of DRIVE and A WHOLE NEW MIND

From the Inside Flap

"Don Wettrick has turned the traditional classroom experience on its head, allowing the students to take control of their own education. The results are stunning! This book should be the blueprint for the future of education."

Tina Seelig
Professor, Stanford University
Author, inGenius: A Crash Course on Creativity

"Don Wettrick has created a wonderful resource for bringing innovation down to earth and into the classroom. A valuable tool for educators!"
Tony Wagner
Author, Creating Innovators

Level up your learning by understanding the pure genius of having one class dedicated to innovation, making, and the pursuit of student interests. Don Wettrick gives you the definitive guidebook on this transformational method of teaching and transforming school to a relevant place where students want to learn.
Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher, author Reinventing Writing


Schools are failing our students and are in desperate need of a reboot. Don Wettrick provides compelling examples of innovative practices that create a culture of learning that is relevant and authentic. His book is a call to action to create an education system that inspires students to learn in ways that not only inspire, but provide skill sets that the real-world demands.
Eric Sheninger
Author, Digital Leadership

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00NCS3M2A
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. (September 4, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 4, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 170 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 109 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Don Wettrick

Don Wettrick

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Don Wettrick is the founder and president of StartEdUp, an organization dedicated to help transform the school culture toward innovation and enable student-led entrepreneurship. He is also the author of "Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation."

Wettrick has worked as a middle school and high school teacher; educational and innovation consultant; CEO, and podcast host.

Don has lectured across the US, Europe, South America and Africa about collaboration, social media use, and work environments that enable innovation. Through his travel, he has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley to Ghana, and seeks to bring that entrepreneurial mindset into our classrooms. His podcast, StartEdUp, has featured some of the most successful entrepreneurs, authors, and thought leaders in the world- focusing on educational change. Most importantly Don works with educators, students, and entrepreneurs to bring innovation and collaborative skills into education.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
109 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book provides an innovative way to develop a curriculum that enhances instruction. They say it inspires students to do more than well and makes them lifelong learners. The book is easy to read and understand, written with basic terminology.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Education valueReadability
23 customers mention "Education value"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an innovative way to develop a curriculum that enhances instruction. They say it inspires students to do more than well and makes them lifelong learners. The book gives them an insight into the challenges in education today, the common core, and the authors. It focuses on students and how to get them focused on innovation and finding new ideas. It's a great book for Innovation, 20% Time, Genius Hour, or whatever you need.

"...I like the way he mentioned the importance of engaging other teaching staff and the lessons he learned from his faillure to do so initially...." Read more

"...enhanced when students are given the time, understanding, and resources to develop and work on ideas founded in their passion, not in a set one-size-..." Read more

"Great book for teachers looking to change their way of teaching. Great tips and strategies on how to push students to do their very best." Read more

"This book is a great guide and idea generator to be innovative in your setting...." Read more

14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. They say it's a great guide for innovative teaching, written in basic terminology. The book is written by a teacher for teachers, providing a clear picture of learning.

"...Go ahead and "BUY IT NOW" already! It's well-worth your time!..." Read more

"...It's been a pleasant read and has given me an insight into the challenges in education today, the common core and the authors' take on it...." Read more

"...Written by a teacher for teachers, it paints a clear picture of why and how learning is greatly enhanced when students are given the time,..." Read more

"This book is a great guide and idea generator to be innovative in your setting...." Read more

“I don’t care if you teach for the next twenty years; just don’t teach one year twenty times.”
5 out of 5 stars
“I don’t care if you teach for the next twenty years; just don’t teach one year twenty times.”
Don Wettrick is part of a cadre of mentors who have, at year twenty-two, changed my teaching forever. He introduced me to genius hour (also referred to as 20Time). In my senior English classes, a new passion took hold of me and in turn, I learned to share that excitement with my students. It is a herculean task to prepare students for what life demands of them, and these projects are unlike anything else I've ever done. Don provides a roadmap to prepare students for college and career. When Don asked the powers that be at Google what they wanted in employees, "without hesitation most of them identified creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation as the top three traits.” Don covers how to do this and much more. Required reading for anyone who wants to try this approach!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • A. Ray
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend for ANY Educator!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    You've heard that you can't judge a book by its cover? You also know there is an exception to every rule. In this case...you CAN judge a book by its cover! Don Wettrick's book really IS Pure Genius! You don't have to have a classroom of your own to pull great ideas from this book! The idea of 20% Time, also known as Passion Projects, Genius Hour, or as Don's Innovation Class, will resonate with educators no matter what your current assignment/title/role! Go ahead and "BUY IT NOW" already! It's well-worth your time! I couldn't put it down and can't wait to implement Don's ideas with my own after school club next year!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Mike
    4.0 out of 5 stars A clear and concise story on how to innovate in education
    Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I've seen the author speak and the best compliment I can give on this book is that it's like sitting across from him listening to his enthusiasm, his ideas and experience in innovating education. It's been a pleasant read and has given me an insight into the challenges in education today, the common core and the authors' take on it. Don Wettrick is honest about the mistakes he has made along the way and open about the challenges he has faced. I like the way he mentioned the importance of engaging other teaching staff and the lessons he learned from his faillure to do so initially. To me this gives it a real quality which a gung ho story mentioning only successes would not have had. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a jumpstart in starting innovative classes for students.
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Grant Lichtman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Genius is a completely authentic foundation and model for ...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Pure Genius is a completely authentic foundation and model for building innovation time and learning into the classroom. Written by a teacher for teachers, it paints a clear picture of why and how learning is greatly enhanced when students are given the time, understanding, and resources to develop and work on ideas founded in their passion, not in a set one-size-fits-all curriculum. Don is a rock star teacher with a growing national reputation who dares, and dares his students, to engage in remarkable work. Any teacher interested in achieving a similar level of success with innovative, creative learning need look no further than this book to find guidance...and optimism that they, too, can aim for genius learning beyond the current standards.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Mark Barnes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Independent learning and autonomy; it's Pure Genius
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    When the phrase "Genius Hour" became trendy a few years ago, many teachers attempted to work it into their classrooms. After all, what could be bad about giving students a little autonomy? Most teachers give up on Genius Hour strategies because their students can't handle the loss of structure. Don Wettrick takes Genius Hour to a hole new level--showing teachers how to turn innovation and autonomy into an everyday classroom miracle. Best of all, Wettrick outlines the key steps to cultivating innovation throughout the week and throughout the school year. From brainstorming Mondays to blog/vlog and feedback Fridays, Pure Genius provides everything teachers need to revolutionize teaching and learning. Throw out your worksheets and workbooks and grab Pure Genius. Then, watch your classroom transform into a vibrant room filled with independent learners.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • kent
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!!!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Great book for teachers looking to change their way of teaching. Great tips and strategies on how to push students to do their very best.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Danny Harbert
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for teachers who want more than standards and tests
    Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a great guide and idea generator to be innovative in your setting. Whatever you teach you can pull something from this book if you are thinking about Incorporating Genius Hour or a whole innovation class into your curriculum.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Mitchell Weisburgh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reignite your love for teaching
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I imagine what it is like before your first teaching job. You are looking forward to inspiring kids to love learning and preparing them for their lives.

    How many of us have lost that spark?

    Don's book is the best way I've found to both reigniting a love of teaching and achieving the goal to make an impact on kids.

    If you're an educator and you want a practical guide to achieving the career you've always wanted, this is the book to read.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • @pwagnerlcisd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read...easy to understand
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book for parents and educators alike. It focuses on the students and how to get them focused on innovation and finding their passion. The book is written with basic terminology so it is easily readable by all, whether in the education field or not.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Greg Turnbull
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Australia on December 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A must read for all educators!!!!
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report