I’m sitting on a plane right now writing this blog post. I just spent an hour working on a sketchy video and before that, I worked on another blog post. I’m nestled up against a window where I can look to my right and remember,…
Read More
I am currently on my fifth solid day of doing things that I find difficult, scary, or boring. Two days ago, I called the cable company to set up my internet. This might not seem like a big deal, but I am terrified of phone calls -- especially…
Read More
A friend of mine is an expecting dad. He asked me, "What it's like to be a dad?" "It's world-changing," I told him. And then I wrote this out. I hope it makes sense. When I'm at home, I’m a dad. But that doesn’t last…
Read More
My son is weird. Not bad weird. Not socially awkward weird. Just weird. He sees the world differently. This last January he asked me if I would make him a graphic novel about a mutant taco-turned-superhero. He loves to design his own Pokemon characters and…
Read More
Disclaimer: This post just barely tiptoes toward education. It's mostly a post about my all-time favorite television comedy. About a week ago, I watched the final season of Parks and Recreation. It struck me, at the end of the series, that this might be the…
Read More
As I sit here at this computer, I am overwhelmed by emotion at the death of Joe Bower. I can't imagine what his family is going through right now. I'm at a loss of words about what to say. I'm not a close friend or…
Read More
When I was a kid, I used to get jealous of classmates who were rewarded for reading. They would get video games or money or whatever and it seemed odd to me. I didn't understand why someone would get rewarded for doing something fun. It…
Read More
I'm a strong proponent of respecting copyright. I think artists deserve to be paid for the work that they do. I'm also a fan of using Creative Commons photography in my blog, on my visual writing ideas, and in my presentations. In general, I use…
Read More
I don't believe that schools are broken. I know that sounds so non-innovative or whatever, but I don't care. I see amazing things that happen at my school on a regular basis. I watch what my kids have learned and I'm blown away. I see…
Read More
Our principal walked into a really tough situation this year. The school culture was in serious trouble and we had a mass exodus of teachers who left. We had unfilled positions along with new initiatives that could have been really unpopular. And yet, the school…
Read More
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.
