The Creative Classroom with John Spencer - podcast cover

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

John Spencerspencereducation.com
John Spencer is passionate about seeing schools embrace creativity and design thinking. In this podcast, he explores the intersection of creative thinking and student learning.

Episodes

Why Depth Is a Critical Advantage in the Age of AI

The future is unpredictable. We know that. So, when we try to design learning experiences that “prepare students for the future,” we have to recognize that we don’t always know what they’ll need. In this article, I explore the counterintuitive reality that the best way... The post Why Depth Is a Critical Advantage in the Age of AI appeared first on John Spencer .

Apr 30, 2025

In a World of AI, Content Curation Is More Important Than Ever

Content curation is a vital part of the creative process. In this blog post and podcast, we explore why curation matters and how we can help students learn how to engage in the curation process. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but... The post In a World of AI, Content Curation Is More Important Than Ever appeared first on John Spencer .

Apr 22, 2025

Sam Marsden on the Value of Improv Games to Spark Creative Thinking

In my latest podcast episode, I interview Samantha Marsden, who shares how drama and improve strategies can help students gain creative confidence, improve their communication skills, and engage in iterative thinking. Her new book Acting Games for Improv is out and I highly recommend it.... The post Sam Marsden on the Value of Improv Games to Spark Creative Thinking appeared first on John Spencer ....

Apr 16, 2025

We Want Students to Be Creative, But How Do We Assess This?

We know that creativity is vital for student learning. We also know that we tend to value the things we assess. However, when we assess creativity, we can unwittingly cause students to become risk-averse. So, how do we assess creativity in a way that encourages... The post We Want Students to Be Creative, But How Do We Assess This? appeared first on John Spencer .

Apr 08, 2025

Centaurs, Cyborgs, and Coffee-Bearded Logos – Seven Ways AI Is Changing Creativity

About a week ago, ChatGPT rolled out a major update to its image generation and suddenly my feed was flooded with AI-generated images in the style of Studio Ghibli. While the results are impressive (yes, it finally gets hands and text right) but also pretty... The post Centaurs, Cyborgs, and Coffee-Bearded Logos – Seven Ways AI Is Changing Creativity appeared first on John Spencer ....

Apr 02, 2025

Ten Ways to Use AI for Deeper Learning and Mastery

We often hear about AI and student cheating. This is a valid concern. But I’d like to highlight ways that we can use AI for deeper mastery. In this post (and podcast), I explore how we can move beyond using AI for quick answers and... The post Ten Ways to Use AI for Deeper Learning and Mastery appeared first on John Spencer .

Mar 26, 2025

Ten Traditional Teaching Practices that Still Belong in a PBL Unit

While it’s easy to reject traditional teaching practices as “less authentic” in PBL, we explore why these ten strategies actually belong in PBL unit plans. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to listen to it on the go, just... The post Ten Traditional Teaching Practices that Still Belong in a PBL Unit appeared first on John Spencer .

Mar 20, 2025

Lynn Cashell on How She Integrated AI into Genius Hour

In this latest episode, Lynn Cashell shares how she integrated AI into her student Genius Hour projects. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to listen to it on the go, just click on the audio below or subscribe via iTunes/Apple... The post Lynn Cashell on How She Integrated AI into Genius Hour appeared first on John Spencer ....

Mar 13, 2025

Taking a Beta Approach to Teaching and Innovation

This week, we explore the concept of “teaching in beta”—a mindset that embraces imperfection and experimentation in the classroom. Learn how veteran teachers are innovating with new strategies, taking creative risks, and continually iterating on their lessons to foster resilience and growth in both students... The post Taking a Beta Approach to Teaching and Innovation appeared first on John Spencer ....

Mar 06, 2025

Jed Dearybury on the Power of a Playful Mindset (Interview)

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... The post Jed Dearybury on the Power of a Playful Mindset (Interview) appeared first on John Spencer ....

Mar 03, 2025

The Six Biggest Mistakes I Made with Genius Hour (and How I Fixed Them)

Student voice and choice can be challenging. There are so many variables at work and it’s okay if it doesn’t work perfectly. In this week’s article, I share my big mistakes I made with Genius Hour and how I changed things through multiple iterations. Listen... The post The Six Biggest Mistakes I Made with Genius Hour (and How I Fixed Them) appeared first on John Spencer ....

Feb 26, 2025

A Continuum for Using AI in Schools

In my latest article and podcast, I share a continuum for how we can think about AI integration in our educational institutions. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to listen to it on the go, just click on the... The post A Continuum for Using AI in Schools appeared first on John Spencer .

Feb 13, 2025

Avoiding the Astrodome Effect with AI

Artificial Intelligence has some very real promise. But in this week’s article and podcast, we explore the danger of the Astrodome Effect and focus, instead, on a blended approach to AI integration. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to... The post Avoiding the Astrodome Effect with AI appeared first on John Spencer .

Feb 04, 2025
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