Creativity Archives - Page 21 of 24

Oct 16 2016

Why Duct Tape and Cardboard Might Be a Better Option than a 3D Printer

By John Spencer Creativity 6 Comments

A few days ago, I met Manuel Herrera at MORENet. He has an amazing maker space where students engage in creative thinking on a daily basis. It's a bastion of creativity and wonder and his passion for it is contagious. However, as we talked about…

Jun 30 2016

How Would Students Redesign the Learning Space?

By John Spencer Creativity, Innovation 4 Comments

A quick disclaimer: I don't know a thing about redesigning learning spaces. I love thinking about the creative process and I believe creative thinking can happen anywhere. Anywhere. Some of my favorite creative work in high school happened when I was sitting in a row,…

Jun 27 2016

Brainstorming Is Broken. Here’s How You Can Fix It.

By John Spencer Creativity, Creativity Deconstructed 4 Comments

Brainstorming Is Broken Brainstorming can be fun. You get together and generate a massive list of ideas. Everyone is shouting all over each other. It’s exciting. It's passionate. But what if it's not all it's cracked up to be? That's a key argument in "Why…

Jun 24 2016

Seven Ways to Affirm the Creativity in Every Student

By John Spencer Creativity, Creativity Deconstructed 2 Comments

A few months ago, I received a Facebook friend request from a former student. I remembered her as a quiet kid that you wouldn’t notice if you weren’t paying attention. I also remembered her vibrant imagination that came out whenever she wrote her blog posts.…

Jun 22 2016

The Difference Between Cooperation and Collaboration

By John Spencer Creativity 11 Comments

Subscribe to YouTube Channel Mike Kaechele offered some great pushback on my last post. Mike is a highly respected project-based learning teacher who often leads PBL trainings in his spare time. So, when he pushes back, I’m quick to listen. I wish I could play…

Jun 20 2016

Seven Keys to Creative Collaboration

By John Spencer Creativity 5 Comments

I'm not a fan of group work. I have vivid memories of doing "team projects" where I completed various tasks while other members disappeared. As a classroom teacher, I preferred to plan alone, dreaming up projects and planning out units in isolation. I am comfortable in…

May 30 2016

This Is What Happens When Teachers Model Curiosity

By John Spencer Creativity One Comment

When I taught middle school, I wanted my students to be curious. I wanted to see them tap into their own natural wonder and ask tons of questions. I wanted them to ask, "Why?" and "Why not?" I wanted them to question answers as…

May 07 2016

Ten Things That Happen When Kids Embrace Design Thinking

By John Spencer Creativity, Design Thinking 5 Comments

I still remember the day. I was in my first year of teaching and I sat there holding my printed lesson plan. This was supposed to be my greatest lesson of the school year. I had planned it for hours, revising various aspects of it…

May 02 2016

Are we making space in our classrooms for imagination?

By John Spencer Creativity 3 Comments

When I go home, I'm no longer a dad. I transform into a sidekick to the world's coolest superhero. I become a nurse to a stuffed animal surgeon. I get to help an architect and a builder in forts made from couch cushions. I become…

Apr 25 2016

You Don’t Need a Makerspace to Have a Space for Makers

By John Spencer Creativity, Creativity Deconstructed, Design Thinking 4 Comments

When I was a kid, my brother and I built a "roller coaster" in the backyard with a wagon, some scraps of wood, and tons of pipes. Was it safe? Probably not. Did it ever work properly? Not really. But it didn't matter. We were…

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

Why Duct Tape and Cardboard Might Be a Better Option than a 3D Printer

How Would Students Redesign the Learning Space?

Brainstorming Is Broken. Here’s How You Can Fix It.

Seven Ways to Affirm the Creativity in Every Student

The Difference Between Cooperation and Collaboration

Seven Keys to Creative Collaboration

This Is What Happens When Teachers Model Curiosity

Ten Things That Happen When Kids Embrace Design Thinking

Are we making space in our classrooms for imagination?

You Don’t Need a Makerspace to Have a Space for Makers

Dr. John Spencer

My Newest Book

Best-Selling Books

Contact me

Dr. John Spencer

JOIN OVER 90,000 EDUCATORS WHO ALREADY GET THE NEWSLETTER