The Creative Classroom with John Spencer https://spencereducation.com/category/podcast/ 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. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:55:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://spencereducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cropped-icon-copy-32x32.png Podcast Archives - Spencer Education https://spencereducation.com/category/podcast/ 32 32 noCopyright 2024, Spencer Creative Servicescreativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,collegeI want to see teachers transform classrooms into spaces of creativity and wonder. So, here's where I explore what it means to make this a reality. I want to see teachers transform classrooms into spaces of creativity and wonder. So, here's where I explore what it means to make this a reality. John Spencerjohn@spencerauthor.comJohn Spencer Why Imitation Might Be the Key to Student Creativity https://spencereducation.com/imitation-sparks-inspiration/ https://spencereducation.com/imitation-sparks-inspiration/#respond Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:13:19 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=67058 We often encourage students to be creative, think outside the box, and find their own voice. But what if one of the best ways to cultivate originality is to begin with imitation? Creativity rarely happens in a vacuum. It grows as we encounter new ideas,...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/imitation-sparks-inspiration/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noWe often encourage students to be creative, think outside the box, and find their own voice. But what if one of the best ways to cultivate originality is to begin with imitation? Creativity rarely happens in a vacuum. It grows as we encounter new ideas,... The post Why Imitation Might Be the Key to Student Creativity appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerWe often encourage students to be creative, think outside the box, and find their own voice. But what if one of the best ways to cultivate originality is to begin with imitation? Creativity rarely happens in a vacuum. It grows as we encounter new ideas,... The post Why Imitation Might Be the Key to Student Creativity appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college We Can’t Empower Students by Disempowering Teachers https://spencereducation.com/we-cant-empower-students-by-disempowering-teachers/ https://spencereducation.com/we-cant-empower-students-by-disempowering-teachers/#respond Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:12:29 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=67051 In my latest blog post, I contrast two types of professional development approaches. The first is a shame-based model that focuses on black and white thinking and sends the message that we are doing everything wrong. The second is a nuanced-based approach centered on empowering...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/we-cant-empower-students-by-disempowering-teachers/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noIn my latest blog post, I contrast two types of professional development approaches. The first is a shame-based model that focuses on black and white thinking and sends the message that we are doing everything wrong. The second is a nuanced-based approach centered on empowering... The post We Can’t Empower Students by Disempowering Teachers appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerIn my latest blog post, I contrast two types of professional development approaches. The first is a shame-based model that focuses on black and white thinking and sends the message that we are doing everything wrong. The second is a nuanced-based approach centered on empowering... The post We Can’t Empower Students by Disempowering Teachers appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college How Quantity Can Improve the Quality of Project-Based Learning https://spencereducation.com/pbl-quantity/ https://spencereducation.com/pbl-quantity/#respond Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:13:14 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=67039 We often assume that improving the quality of student work means slowing down and spending more time on a single project. But sometimes the opposite is true. Creating more can actually help students create better. In my latest article and podcast episode, I explore how...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/pbl-quantity/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noWe often assume that improving the quality of student work means slowing down and spending more time on a single project. But sometimes the opposite is true. Creating more can actually help students create better. In my latest article and podcast episode, I explore how... The post How Quantity Can Improve the Quality of Project-Based Learning appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerWe often assume that improving the quality of student work means slowing down and spending more time on a single project. But sometimes the opposite is true. Creating more can actually help students create better. In my latest article and podcast episode, I explore how... The post How Quantity Can Improve the Quality of Project-Based Learning appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college Why Constraints Make Us More Creative https://spencereducation.com/creative-constraints/ https://spencereducation.com/creative-constraints/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:53:51 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=67030 We often assume that creativity requires freedom. Remove the rules, open up the possibilities, and let students run with their ideas. But sometimes the opposite is true. The right constraints can give us a starting point, push us beyond the obvious, and lead to possibilities...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/creative-constraints/feed/ 2 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noWe often assume that creativity requires freedom. Remove the rules, open up the possibilities, and let students run with their ideas. But sometimes the opposite is true. The right constraints can give us a starting point, push us beyond the obvious, and lead to possibilities... The post Why Constraints Make Us More Creative appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerWe often assume that creativity requires freedom. Remove the rules, open up the possibilities, and let students run with their ideas. But sometimes the opposite is true. The right constraints can give us a starting point, push us beyond the obvious, and lead to possibilities... The post Why Constraints Make Us More Creative appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college 5 Myths About Creativity https://spencereducation.com/5-myths-about-creativity/ https://spencereducation.com/5-myths-about-creativity/#respond Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:53:25 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=67013 Sometimes our biggest creative failures reveal what we actually believe about creativity. In fifth grade, a disastrous California Mission project forced me to rethink what it meant to be “creative.” Years later, I can see how many of my assumptions were actually common cultural myths:...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/5-myths-about-creativity/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noSometimes our biggest creative failures reveal what we actually believe about creativity. In fifth grade, a disastrous California Mission project forced me to rethink what it meant to be “creative.” Years later, I can see how many of my assumptions were actually common cultural myths:... The post 5 Myths About Creativity appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerSometimes our biggest creative failures reveal what we actually believe about creativity. In fifth grade, a disastrous California Mission project forced me to rethink what it meant to be “creative.” Years later, I can see how many of my assumptions were actually common cultural myths:... The post 5 Myths About Creativity appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college The Power of Routine Creativity https://spencereducation.com/routine-creativity/ https://spencereducation.com/routine-creativity/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:13:31 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=67002 We often picture creativity as something big and bold. It’s the ambitious project that draws in the entire community. It’s the big project that kids remember years later. But creativity doesn’t have to be an event. In fact, some of the most powerful creative thinking...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/routine-creativity/feed/ 2 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noWe often picture creativity as something big and bold. It’s the ambitious project that draws in the entire community. It’s the big project that kids remember years later. But creativity doesn’t have to be an event. In fact, some of the most powerful creative thinking... The post The Power of Routine Creativity appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerWe often picture creativity as something big and bold. It’s the ambitious project that draws in the entire community. It’s the big project that kids remember years later. But creativity doesn’t have to be an event. In fact, some of the most powerful creative thinking... The post The Power of Routine Creativity appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college Beyond Screen Time: The Low Tech Learning Matrix https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-matrix/ https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-matrix/#respond Thu, 30 Jul 2026 05:44:20 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66967 For years, the conversation around educational technology centered on one question: How can we get more technology into classrooms? Today, we’re facing a different challenge. It’s time to move beyond debates about screen time and start thinking more intentionally about when technology leads to deeper...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-matrix/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noFor years, the conversation around educational technology centered on one question: How can we get more technology into classrooms? Today, we’re facing a different challenge. It’s time to move beyond debates about screen time and start thinking more intentionally about when technology leads to deeper... The post Beyond Screen Time: The Low Tech Learning Matrix appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerFor years, the conversation around educational technology centered on one question: How can we get more technology into classrooms? Today, we’re facing a different challenge. It’s time to move beyond debates about screen time and start thinking more intentionally about when technology leads to deeper... The post Beyond Screen Time: The Low Tech Learning Matrix appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college The Power of Low-Tech Games and Simulations in the Classroom https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-games/ https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-games/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:33:37 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66951 When people hear the term game-based learning, they often picture students staring at computer screens while navigating elaborate virtual worlds. Or perhaps a lone student staring into a VR headset in isolation. Those experiences certainly have their place (at times). However, some of the most...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-games/feed/ 1 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noWhen people hear the term game-based learning, they often picture students staring at computer screens while navigating elaborate virtual worlds. Or perhaps a lone student staring into a VR headset in isolation. Those experiences certainly have their place (at times). However, some of the most... The post The Power of Low-Tech Games and Simulations in the Classroom appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerWhen people hear the term game-based learning, they often picture students staring at computer screens while navigating elaborate virtual worlds. Or perhaps a lone student staring into a VR headset in isolation. Those experiences certainly have their place (at times). However, some of the most... The post The Power of Low-Tech Games and Simulations in the Classroom appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college The Best Makerspace Might Be Outside https://spencereducation.com/biomimcry/ https://spencereducation.com/biomimcry/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:51:45 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=56835 We want students to be makers and designers. But there’s a surprising source of inspiration for design: the natural world. As we think about moving toward a low-tech approach, we need something better than desks in rows with students doing worksheets. Listen to the Podcast...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/biomimcry/feed/ 4 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noWe want students to be makers and designers. But there’s a surprising source of inspiration for design: the natural world. As we think about moving toward a low-tech approach, we need something better than desks in rows with students doing worksheets. Listen to the Podcast... The post The Best Makerspace Might Be Outside appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerWe want students to be makers and designers. But there’s a surprising source of inspiration for design: the natural world. As we think about moving toward a low-tech approach, we need something better than desks in rows with students doing worksheets. Listen to the Podcast... The post The Best Makerspace Might Be Outside appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college Beyond Screen Time: What LAUSD’s New Policy Gets Right and Wrong https://spencereducation.com/lausd-low-tech/ https://spencereducation.com/lausd-low-tech/#respond Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:13:30 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66923 The Los Angeles Unified School District has adopted one of the nation’s most restrictive classroom screen time policies. It will dramatically limit technology use across grade levels. Much of the reporting has focused on “banning devices,” but as I examined the actual policy, I noticed...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/lausd-low-tech/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noThe Los Angeles Unified School District has adopted one of the nation’s most restrictive classroom screen time policies. It will dramatically limit technology use across grade levels. Much of the reporting has focused on “banning devices,” but as I examined the actual policy, I noticed... The post Beyond Screen Time: What LAUSD’s New Policy Gets Right and Wrong appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerThe Los Angeles Unified School District has adopted one of the nation’s most restrictive classroom screen time policies. It will dramatically limit technology use across grade levels. Much of the reporting has focused on “banning devices,” but as I examined the actual policy, I noticed... The post Beyond Screen Time: What LAUSD’s New Policy Gets Right and Wrong appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college