Podcast Archives - Page 21 of 28

Oct 28 2019

The Goal of Education Isn’t Simply a Better Job

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 3 Comments

Before I went to Hong Kong, people would ask me, "What about the protests?" and I almost always answered with "I hear you can avoid those." And that statement is absolutely true. The beauty of living in a pluralistic democracy is the freedom to avoid…

Oct 14 2019

It Might Be Hands-on Learning, But Is It Minds-on Learning?

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast One Comment

It was the first Friday of the first week of my first year as a teacher and I was determined to have students engage in a hands-on learning activity. My students were going to solidify their understanding of the five themes of geography by creating…

Sep 16 2019

Five Ways Humor Boosts Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving in the Classroom

By John Spencer Creativity Deconstructed, Podcast 13 Comments

When we think about creativity and innovation, the words "humor" and "goofiness" don't typically come to mind. But I'd argue that this is a critical piece of what it means to cultivate a climate of creativity. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog…

Sep 09 2019

Students Are Often Terrified About Launching Their Work. Here’s How We Can Fix It.

By John Spencer Design Thinking, Podcast One Comment

Picture this. I’m standing up front at the front of the class, an awkward high school freshman new to Arizona. I'm shy. Painfully shy. I don't know anyone in my class. Every part of me wants to crawl up into a ball and hide. The…

Aug 13 2019

Why Trust Is Vital to Peer Feedback

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning 7 Comments

I still remember a moment in my fifth year of teaching when I invited my colleague, Javier, to observe a lesson I was teaching. "Colleague" doesn't quite describe it. Javi and I ran a project-based service learning together. We developed a fully tech-integrated curriculum together…

Jul 02 2019

Four Things P.E. Teachers Can Teach Us About Innovative Teaching

By John Spencer Innovation, Podcast 4 Comments

Six years ago, I led my first PBL workshop for a group of high school teachers. It was the summer after my tenth year in the classroom and I felt fairly confident that I could facilitate a whole day of professional development. I knew, for…

Jun 10 2019

Sometimes a Quieter Classroom Is Actually the Answer

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 3 Comments

A few years ago, my parents purchased the ultimate HGTV-style home, replete with vaulted ceilings, granite countertops, and an open floorplan. This was the dream space for entertaining. People could seamlessly move from the kitchen to the dining room to the family room – which…

Jun 04 2019

It’s Okay to Do That Same Epic Project Next Year

By John Spencer Podcast, Project-Based Learning 2 Comments

It was twelve years ago when I sat down with a journal and began debriefing my first full year of going project-based. I had a list of what went well, what went poorly, and what things I wanted to try out the next year. As…

May 20 2019

Growth Mindset is Great But Children Need Affirmation

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 2 Comments

A little over a decade ago, I read Mindset by Carol Dweck and it had a profound influence on my life. It affirmed something I knew as a teacher. Students show up to school with fixed and growth mindsets. As a teacher, I can do…

May 13 2019

What Happens When Students Don’t Finish Projects? (Hint: It’s Not As Bad As It Seems)

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 4 Comments

About a decade ago, I had a group of students who had a great concept. They would make a paper mural. It would be shaped like the U.S.-Mexico border and it would have a picture of the Statue of Liberty in the middle with a…