Blog - Page 16 of 47 - John Spencer

Mar 05 2021

Four Ways to Boost Collaboration in Student Projects

By John Spencer Creative Collaboration, Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning 5 Comments

Creative collaboration can be challenging at every every level of education. Sometimes the issue is work imbalance, with one student doing the majority of the work while others slack off. The term organizational psychology is "cognitive loafing." In some cases, it can feel like one…

Feb 26 2021

Thom Gibson on Designing Student Jobs that Empower the Classroom Community

By John Spencer Empowering Students, Podcast One Comment

Teachers have been using student jobs for years but sometimes a classic idea can use a makeover in an age of hybrid learning, remote learning, and blended learning. In this podcast episode, I interview Thom Gibson, who has thought strategically about how to use classroom…

Feb 12 2021

Austin Kleon on the Surprising Truths About Creativity

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast One Comment

In our world, we have these rules that creative types are supposed to follow. However, Austin Kleon, a self-described, “writer who draws,” takes those rules and tears them to shreds. Or maybe not. Maybe he turns them upside down or folds them into a paper…

Feb 04 2021

Students Should Share Their Process, Not Just Their Product

By John Spencer Creativity, Innovation, Podcast 11 Comments

When I was a kid, I loved watching reality TV. Okay, it wasn't really reality TV. It was PBS. However, I would watch an entire season of This Old House, as Bob Vila walked viewers step-by-step through a cumbersome restoration process. This never included a…

Jan 29 2021

Jed Dearybury on the Power of Play for All Ages (Interview)

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast No Comments

In my latest podcast episode, I interview Jed Dearybury. He's a deep thinker and a creative spirit. As the co-author of The Playful Classroom, Jed advocates for integrating play into every aspect of school; from curriculum and instruction to assessment to the classroom culture to…

Jan 25 2021

Want Students to Be More Creative? Try Adding More Play.

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 7 Comments

It's supposed to snow this week, which reminds me of a moment four years ago when it snowed. We were from Phoenix, which meant our children had spent their lives experiencing the two seasons of blazingly hot and nice. The only thing that changed color…

Jan 19 2021

Using a Wonder Day Project to Spark Student Inquiry

By John Spencer Creativity, Project-Based Learning 13 Comments

My friend George Couros once said, "If students leave school less curious than when they have started, we have failed them." I tend to agree. I've never heard of a cosmologist who says, "I'm done with the universe. No more questions here." I've also never…

Jan 11 2021

Treat Each Genius Hour Project as an Experiment

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast No Comments

Last year, I began creating stickers, sweatshirts, and t-shirts with my own sketches on them. I figured it would be fun to give some t-shirts and stickers away when I do keynotes or workshops. But honestly, it wasn't really about professional development. It was about…

Jan 04 2021

The Power of Visible Thinking in Virtual Learning

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast 4 Comments

It's easy for a virtual class session to slip into a talking head approach. You turn on the camera and students see your face. At times, you might toggle back and forth between a slideshow and your camera but it can easily slip into something…

Dec 31 2020

A Different Type of New Year’s Resolution

By John Spencer Creativity One Comment

I created a sketch video about a different type of New Year's Resolution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jknTxjyw_8g It’s a new year which means it’s a chance for new beginnings. So when we think of New Year’s Resolutions, we often imagine starting something new. Start a new habit or…