As a former middle school teacher and current full-time professor and best-selling author, I’m a big believer in empowering students (and teachers) through the power of creativity. Whether you sign up for one of my online courses, read one of my books, or invite me to spend time with your staff, I promise you’ll walk away with a fresh perspective and new ideas to spark deeper learning in your students.
In a world shaped by rapid change and constant distraction, students face challenges that can’t be solved with surface-level answers. They need the tools to think critically, solve complex problems, adapt to new situations, and communicate with clarity and purpose. Deeper learning equips students with the mindset and skill-set to thrive – not just in school, but in life.
Free ResourcesAs a professor, I regularly interview experts, deconstruct systems, and test out new strategies with current K-12 teachers. My goal is to share what I am learning in my podcast, weekly newsletter, and YouTube channel. I also offer free out-of-the-box downloads for all my subscribers.
Live SessionsReady to empower your educators with learning that sticks? Whether you’re looking for engaging keynotes to equip your entire staff, a hands-on workshop to build new skills, or ongoing coaching, I would love to meet with your team to design a customized plan.
On-Demand LearningWant to take a deeper dive into deeper learning? I’ve written multiple books and crafted on-demand courses to walk you through how to make this a reality. You might also want to join a cohort in the spring.
Explore my courses, ongoing coaching, cohorts, workshops, and keynotes on project-based learning.
“As we continue our journey to provided quality learning opportunities to our students, Johnʻs work will be an important resource. We highly encourage other schools to offer Johnʻs resources to their teachers.”
Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu, HI
“Dr. Spencer inspired my teachers to get back to creating classrooms full of “creativity and wonder”. I now hear conversations among teachers as to how to “launch” a PBL project in their class, how they are incorporating empathy into projects, and how service learning is changing their students mindsets. “
Douglas County Schools, Douglasville, GA
“John brought a great deal of energy and a fun sense of humor to his workshop that created a fun learning atmosphere for our faculty in a stressful time. I highly recommend John’s workshop and hope he can come back to CFS in the future!”
Church Farm School, Exton, PA
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In the future, our students will need to navigate a complex maze rather than climb a corporate ladder. They will need skills, habits, and mindsets so that they can thrive in an unpredictable world. So, in my books, podcasts, articles, and professional development, I explore the following deeper learning topics.
As a teacher, I combined design thinking with PBL for over a decade to design meaningful, structured project-based learning. In 2013, I spoke at the White House about one of our multidisciplinary projects. As a professor, I work with pre-service and current classroom teachers to help them launch PBL in multiple subject areas.
My journey as a teacher has been from a focus on engagement to a focus on empowerment. I love to share the stories, mistakes, and insights I’ve had along this journey. I also share practical tools and strategies you can use tomorrow to shift toward student empowerment.
I am passionate about the overlap of tried and true practices with emerging technology and new strategies. It’s why I wrote Vintage Innovation, Empowered at a Distance, and The AI Roadmap. If you are looking for relevant, practical professional learning that goes beyond the tools, I would love to work with you on a plan of action.
In an age of distractions, students are bombarded with noise: notifications, multitasking, and the temptation of shortcuts in a world of instant answers. But what if we gave students something richer? Together, let’s explore how to cultivate the habits of deeper thinking, sustained focus, and meaningful learning across content areas.
Check out my latest articles and podcast episodes.
