Creativity Archives - Page 3 of 25

Jan 02 2025

Embracing the New Year: Five Approaches to Goal-Setting and Growth in the Classroom

By John Spencer Creativity 10 Comments

The start of the new year is a great opportunity to reflect on your goals, set new goals, and focus on building momentum moving forward. Some people love the notion of New Year's Resolutions and they use this time to set goals and design structured…

Dec 09 2024

Get the FREE Design a School on Mars Challenge!

By John Spencer Creativity 2 Comments

Eight years ago, A.J. Juliani and I launched the Design a School on Mars challenge. This year, we decided to update the challenge with new supports and a new process based on what we have learned in our continued PBL and design thinking journey. We…

Dec 04 2024

Designing PBL to Decrease Cognitive Load

By John Spencer Creativity, Depth Advantage, Podcast 4 Comments

In my last article, I described how deeper learning functions as a solution for distraction. But this week, I want to address one of the very real challenges of deeper learning systems, like project-based learning and inquiry-based learning. In particular, what about the problem with…

Oct 16 2024

The Five Biggest Pitfalls of Collaborative Grouping (And How to Avoid Them)

By John Spencer Creative Collaboration, Creativity, Podcast 6 Comments

We’ve all been there before. You’re working with a few other people and everything just seems to click. It might be on a ball field or court. Or it might be in a jam session or a rehearsal for live theater. If you’re lucky, it…

Oct 09 2024

How do you come up with great project ideas? (Four Starting Places)

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning One Comment

I love to come up with project ideas. The brainstorming process feels a bit like going to a candy store, where I get to peruse past experiences, seek out new interests, find materials, and feel inspired by whatever pops up. Or better yet, it's more…

Oct 02 2024

Making the Most of Community Partnerships in PBL

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning No Comments

In PBL, we often think about the role of a public product. However, community involvement is actually something we can embed into every area of the PBL process. In this week's article and podcast, we take a deep dive into how we can make this…

Jul 28 2024

7 Ways to Integrate Curiosity into the Classroom

By John Spencer Creativity, Empowering Students, Podcast 9 Comments

We often use the word AI to describe the newest generation of chatbots. However, computers can’t think. They process information. Humans think. Human cognition is affective and emotional. It's unpredictable and messy. It’s inherently social and relational. We use the term “intelligence” to describe A.I.…

Jul 16 2024

Sprints, Mini-Projects, and Project-Based Learning

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast One Comment

This would be the year. I would be a fully project-based social studies teacher. After reading every PBL book I could read and attending PBL sessions at a few summer conferences, I had a vision for a new way of teaching my subject. My third…

Jun 24 2024

Creative Habits Versus Creative Momentum

By John Spencer Creativity, Creativity Deconstructed, Podcast 2 Comments

We often hear about the need to develop creative habits. However, habits alone can lead to stagnation. You end up flat lining. In this week's article and podcast, I share a different approach: creative momentum. The summer time can be a great chance to build…

Jun 18 2024

From Battlefields to Common Ground: Embracing Nuance, Paradox, and Empathy in Education

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast, Teacher Life 4 Comments

Something about the current educational climate has me feeling unsettled. Although I often write about PBL, educational technology, and student empowerment, I want to share something different this week. It's about paradox, nuance, empathy, and the danger in making things a "war" in education. Listen…

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

Embracing the New Year: Five Approaches to Goal-Setting and Growth in the Classroom

Get the FREE Design a School on Mars Challenge!

Designing PBL to Decrease Cognitive Load

The Five Biggest Pitfalls of Collaborative Grouping (And How to Avoid Them)

How do you come up with great project ideas? (Four Starting Places)

Making the Most of Community Partnerships in PBL

7 Ways to Integrate Curiosity into the Classroom

Sprints, Mini-Projects, and Project-Based Learning

Creative Habits Versus Creative Momentum

From Battlefields to Common Ground: Embracing Nuance, Paradox, and Empathy in Education

Dr. John Spencer

My Newest Book

Best-Selling Books

Contact me

Dr. John Spencer

JOIN OVER 90,000 EDUCATORS WHO ALREADY GET THE NEWSLETTER