I'm sitting in my office next to a dozing dog, staring at the cursor on my computer. This is it. I'm in the final leg of my dissertation. I've outlined chapters four and five and now I simply need to write it all out. This…
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We often hear about the need for students to learn how to program in order to be ready for STEM fields and the Information Economy. It’s what we’ve been hearing for over a decade. However, there’s a fascinating piece from the Washington Post that explores…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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If we want students to think like artists, entrepreneurs, and engineers, they need the chance to design real projects. But this also requires students to learn how to engage in project management. The following is a short video on the project management process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7yZutiwRso&t=26s …
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I want to make something clear before we dive into this topic. I made huge mistakes in classroom management as a teacher. I let certain disruptive behaviors go unchecked because I was tired and I didn't want to put out another fire. I had moments…
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I remember the first time we did a PBL unit and I asked students to fill out a survey on their favorite and least favorite parts. Overwhelmingly, students described dreading the research process. Similarly, when we first used design thinking, students asked me why we…
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When we think of innovative companies, it's easy to imagine an open-air tech startup with ping pong tables and free drinks and huge windows and chairs so modern you're not sure how you're supposed to sit in them or look at them. Sometimes I look at…
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Over the last month, we have been taking a deep dive into project-based learning. One of the most frequent questions I hear about PBL is "how do we get all of the members to participate in group projects?" Both elementary and secondary education teachers ask…
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Dr. John Spencer
I’m a professor and a maker. Sometimes I make things. Sometimes I make a difference. On a good day, I get to do both.
