Creativity Archives - Page 15 of 24

May 03 2019

Writing Prompt: Tell the Story of Your First Pet (Download for Free)

By John Spencer Creativity No Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a13Cj82rT7Y&t=1s I'm going to start sharing each video prompt I create on YouTube. If you like these prompts, please consider subscribing to my channel. This one is designed for younger students, though I could totally see secondary students running with this as a chance to…

Apr 25 2019

Download the Free Design Thinking Toolkit for Teachers

By John Spencer Creativity 4 Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrNvgyvs1GU Design thinking is a human-centered, empathy-driven process for creative work. The LAUNCH framework is a student-friendly design thinking framework you can use in your classroom. It includes three critical elements for creative work: structure, interdependency, and student ownership. As a teacher, you can use…

Apr 19 2019

Making Is Magic

By John Spencer Creativity, Design Thinking 3 Comments

This article is part of a longer series on design thinking, a flexible framework for empathy-driven creative work. The Power of Prototyping A few days ago, I got the opportunity to do a keynote in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. One of my highlights was the student display area,…

Apr 17 2019

Moving from Recipes to Projects

By John Spencer Creativity, Design Thinking 3 Comments

This article is part of a longer series on design thinking, a flexible framework for empathy-driven creative work. You might want to check out other articles in the series first. Students begin with a state of awareness in the Look, Listen, and Learn phase. Next, they move…

Apr 12 2019

Research Is Critical for Student Design Projects

By John Spencer Creativity, Project-Based Learning One Comment

This article is part of a longer series on design thinking, a flexible framework for empathy-driven creative work. You might want to check out other articles in the series first. The Importance of Research in Design Thinking The LAUNCH process starts with awareness, where students…

Apr 11 2019

Spark Curiosity and Help Students Ask Better Questions

By John Spencer Creativity One Comment

In the previous article, we explored the Look, Listen, and Learn phase of the LAUNCH process for design thinking. In this article, we explore the second phase, Ask Tons of Questions. When students are able to ask their own questions, they can chase their curiosity…

Apr 08 2019

Great Design Can Begin Anywhere (6 Starting Places for Design Thinking)

By John Spencer Creativity, Design Thinking 2 Comments

A few years ago, our yard was canvased by a thick sheet of snow -- well, thick for a southwestern guy who has just moved to the northwest. I'm pretty sure my friends in Michigan would have called it a "dusting." However, my kids spent…

Feb 25 2019

The Surprising Truth Behind Creating and Consuming

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 4 Comments

It's easy to pit creativity and consumption against each other. However, critical consuming is vital for creative work. When you engage in critical consuming, you become more inspired and ultimately, you will create better content. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but…

Feb 12 2019

7 Ways to Inspire Divergent Thinking in the Classroom

By John Spencer Creativity, Creativity Deconstructed 14 Comments

The world is unpredictable. The corporate ladder is now a maze, which means our students will need to think divergently. In this article, we explore how to integrate divergent thinking into our everyday classroom practices. This is an updated version of an article that was…

Feb 04 2019

Six Strategies for Tackling Perfectionism

By John Spencer Creativity, Teacher Life One Comment

The following is a variation on a post I created for the New Teacher Academy. Each year, I ask my pre-service teachers to describe what teaching will be like when they move from surviving to thriving. Common themes emerge. "Every student will listen each time…

Dr. John Spencer

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, enroll in one of my cohorts or invite me to spend time with your staff, I promise you’ll walk away with a fresh perspective and new ideas to transform your classroom.

Creativity

Writing Prompt: Tell the Story of Your First Pet (Download for Free)

Download the Free Design Thinking Toolkit for Teachers

Making Is Magic

Moving from Recipes to Projects

Research Is Critical for Student Design Projects

Spark Curiosity and Help Students Ask Better Questions

Great Design Can Begin Anywhere (6 Starting Places for Design Thinking)

The Surprising Truth Behind Creating and Consuming

7 Ways to Inspire Divergent Thinking in the Classroom

Six Strategies for Tackling Perfectionism

Dr. John Spencer

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Dr. John Spencer

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