Blog - Spencer Education

Jan 27 2026

Susan M. Riley on the Power of Creativity in the Age of AI

By John Spencer Podcast No Comments

In my latest episode, I talk to Susan M. Riley about what creativity looks like in a generative age. She talks about how it's changing, why it's important, and what creative thinking looks like in a K-12 classroom. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy…

Jan 26 2026

The Five Biggest Fears that Kept Me from Empowering Students

By John Spencer Empowering Students, Podcast, Student Choice 4 Comments

Student engagement is harder than it used to be, but the answer is not more control or better entertainment. It is helping students move from compliance to true ownership, where they have voice, choice, and responsibility for their learning. This post explores what happens when…

Jan 21 2026

The Push and the Pull Needed to Help Students Focus

By John Spencer Creativity, Depth Advantage, Podcast No Comments

Focus is no longer our default. It's not something that tends to happen by accident anymore. In a culture built on notifications, infinite scroll, and instant answers, students need both a pull toward deeper thinking and a push away from the distractions that steal their…

Jan 13 2026

The Human Advantage: Nine Skills We Can’t Afford to Lose in an AI-Powered World

By John Spencer Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, Podcast No Comments

With AI becoming a helpful tool in education, it’s easy to see the benefits of quick access to information, personalized support, and the efficiency that technology can bring. However, as we embrace these tools, we also want to preserve and nurture the learning experiences that…

Jan 06 2026

Brett Fischer on AI and Teacher Creativity

By John Spencer Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, Podcast No Comments

In my latest episode, Brett Fischer talks about how AI is transforming teacher creativity. I loved his practical insights and depth of knowledge on this subject. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to listen to it on the go,…

Jan 02 2026

Designing Socratic Seminars to Ensure That All Students Can Participate

By John Spencer Empowering Students, Podcast 19 Comments

Socratic seminars are a democratic, student-centered, approach to class discussions. They can be used at any grade level with any subject area. In a Socratic Seminar, members meet in a circle (or more likely an oval, because, let’s be real, circles are really hard to…

Dec 03 2025

How Will AI Transform Creative Thinking?

By John Spencer Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, Podcast No Comments

As AI becomes becomes more pervasive in our daily work, we often wrestle with a big question: what should we automate and what should we protect as deeply human? We experience this profoundly in creative work. We are drawn to the speed and efficiency of…

Nov 13 2025

How Compacting Can Lead to Deeper Learning

By John Spencer Creativity, Depth Advantage No Comments

In my latest article, I explore how we can use compacting to spark deeper learning in students. We dive into why compacting matters, how it works, what models to use, and how we can incorporate assessment into it. The Need for Compacting When my son…

Nov 02 2025

Tony Vincent on How to Integrate AI Ethically in an Elementary Classroom

By John Spencer Creativity One Comment

In this episode, I interview ed tech expert Tony Vincent, who shares practical insights on how educators can use AI ethically and responsibly in schools. He discusses how teachers can balance innovation with integrity, ensuring that AI supports creativity, critical thinking, and student agency without…

Oct 29 2025

Using AI to Spark Deeper Learning

By John Spencer Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, Depth Advantage, Podcast No Comments

AI represents both a dream and a warning for education. On one hand, it offers personalized feedback, instant support, and creative possibilities that can make learning more dynamic than ever. On the other, it tempts us toward speed over depth, efficiency over understanding, and convenience…