Blog - Page 43 of 49 - Spencer Education

Jan 08 2016

What is the best type of technology training?

By John Spencer Technology and Media Literacy 4 Comments

I'm sitting at a technology training learning about a new app. This is the kind of training I've seen people mock. I've heard folks say, "You should focus on pedagogy and not technology." Or people say, "Professional development should be job-embedded." Or even, "If you're…

Jan 06 2016

Re-imagining School for Introverted Teachers

By John Spencer Teacher Life 15 Comments

There are days when I am working that I don't feel like I'm working. I sit down for three hours and plan out the anatomy of a course. I chip away at a new syllabus. I hop over to a Google Document and leave feedback…

Jan 04 2016

The Incredible Legacy of Joe Bower (@joe_bower)

By John Spencer Uncategorized 6 Comments

As I sit here at this computer, I am overwhelmed by emotion at the death of Joe Bower. I can't imagine what his family is going through right now. I'm at a loss of words about what to say. I'm not a close friend or…

Dec 29 2015

What can these two ballparks teach us about innovation?

By John Spencer Creativity 2 Comments

The Astrodome was the most relevant stadium of its time. With the largest JumboTron, the trendiest color choice and a very modern, symmetrical design, it embodied the Space Age. It was the anti-Fenway. It was the ballpark of the future. It was relevant. It began with the…

Dec 27 2015

Can boredom make you more creative?

By John Spencer Creativity, Creativity Deconstructed 3 Comments

Right now, I’m sitting on an airplane. I mean, I’m not actually sitting on the airplane. I’m in it. Because, if I were on top of it, I wouldn’t be bored. I'd be terrified. Without access to the interwebz, I have nothing to do. I’ve…

Dec 15 2015

Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Student Portfolios

By John Spencer Empowering Students No Comments

Portfolios are a powerful way to help students showcase their work, reflect on their learning, and set goals for the future. But as an educator (first as a middle school teacher and now as a college professor), I have always been looking for ways to…

Dec 09 2015

Reading is Rewarding When There’s No Reward for Reading

By John Spencer Uncategorized 10 Comments

When I was a kid, I used to get jealous of classmates who were rewarded for reading. They would get video games or money or whatever and it seemed odd to me. I didn't understand why someone would get rewarded for doing something fun. It…

Nov 19 2015

How do we bring wonder back into the classroom?

By John Spencer Creativity, Creativity Deconstructed 2 Comments

A few years ago, I had the chance to teach science in a self-contained classroom (teaching all subjects). I scoured the Internet for examples of great demonstrations that would captivate my students’ attention. It worked at first. I did the typical experiments. You know, add…

Nov 17 2015

The Power of Audience

By John Spencer Creativity No Comments

When I was little, art was a refuge . . . . until it wasn't anymore. It's a story that's better told in video than in writing: Subscribe to YouTube Channel Even then, I hid behind the scenes. I sketched things on this blog until…

Nov 12 2015

Ten Creative Alternatives to Standardized Tests

By John Spencer Creativity No Comments

It's easy to bust on standardized tests. They suck. They're boring. They're virtually meaningless. They kill instructional time. But what's the alternative? If we're not using multiple choice tests, what are we using? If we want a more creative classroom, what types of assessments exist…