The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

Project-based learning and design thinking have both become buzzwords in the educational landscape. But beyond the buzz, both PBL and design thinking have rich histories that span decades. Both approaches also offer practical frameworks for teachers who are crafting authentic projects for their students. So,...

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We often encourage students to be creative, think outside the box, and find their own voice. But what if one of the best ways to cultivate originality is to begin with imitation? Creativity rarely happens in a vacuum. It grows as we encounter new ideas,...

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In my latest blog post, I contrast two types of professional development approaches. The first is a shame-based model that focuses on black and white thinking and sends the message that we are doing everything wrong. The second is a nuanced-based approach centered on empowering...

The post We Can’t Empower Students by Disempowering Teachers appeared first on Spencer Education.

We often assume that improving the quality of student work means slowing down and spending more time on a single project. But sometimes the opposite is true. Creating more can actually help students create better. In my latest article and podcast episode, I explore how...

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We often assume that creativity requires freedom. Remove the rules, open up the possibilities, and let students run with their ideas. But sometimes the opposite is true. The right constraints can give us a starting point, push us beyond the obvious, and lead to possibilities...

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Sometimes our biggest creative failures reveal what we actually believe about creativity. In fifth grade, a disastrous California Mission project forced me to rethink what it meant to be “creative.” Years later, I can see how many of my assumptions were actually common cultural myths:...

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We often picture creativity as something big and bold. It’s the ambitious project that draws in the entire community. It’s the big project that kids remember years later. But creativity doesn’t have to be an event. In fact, some of the most powerful creative thinking...

The post The Power of Routine Creativity appeared first on Spencer Education.

For years, the conversation around educational technology centered on one question: How can we get more technology into classrooms? Today, we’re facing a different challenge. It’s time to move beyond debates about screen time and start thinking more intentionally about when technology leads to deeper...

The post Beyond Screen Time: The Low Tech Learning Matrix appeared first on Spencer Education.

When people hear the term game-based learning, they often picture students staring at computer screens while navigating elaborate virtual worlds. Or perhaps a lone student staring into a VR headset in isolation. Those experiences certainly have their place (at times). However, some of the most...

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We want students to be makers and designers. But there’s a surprising source of inspiration for design: the natural world. As we think about moving toward a low-tech approach, we need something better than desks in rows with students doing worksheets. Listen to the Podcast...

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