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. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:33:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 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 The Power of Low-Tech Games and Simulations in the Classroom https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-games/ https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-games/#respond 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...

The post The Power of Low-Tech Games and Simulations in the Classroom appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-games/feed/ 0 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...

The post The Best Makerspace Might Be Outside appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> 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...

The post Beyond Screen Time: What LAUSD’s New Policy Gets Right and Wrong appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> 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 When Personalized Learning Works Better Than Adaptive Learning https://spencereducation.com/personalized-or-adaptive/ https://spencereducation.com/personalized-or-adaptive/#respond Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:55:42 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66913 Personalized learning has become one of the biggest promises in educational technology, with adaptive learning platforms and AI tutors claiming to tailor instruction to every student. But genuine personalization has to begin with the person. We lose something wen we center it on the algorithm...

The post When Personalized Learning Works Better Than Adaptive Learning appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> https://spencereducation.com/personalized-or-adaptive/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noPersonalized learning has become one of the biggest promises in educational technology, with adaptive learning platforms and AI tutors claiming to tailor instruction to every student. But genuine personalization has to begin with the person. We lose something wen we center it on the algorithm... The post When Personalized Learning Works Better Than Adaptive Learning appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerPersonalized learning has become one of the biggest promises in educational technology, with adaptive learning platforms and AI tutors claiming to tailor instruction to every student. But genuine personalization has to begin with the person. We lose something wen we center it on the algorithm... The post When Personalized Learning Works Better Than Adaptive Learning appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college What the Revival of Barnes and Noble Can Teach Us about Gen Z and Technology https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-gen-z/ https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-gen-z/#respond Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:56:49 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66898 For years, educational technology has promised to make learning faster, more personalized, and more efficient. On some respect, it has delivered on those promises. But as concerns about screen time and student engagement continue to grow, more educators are rediscovering the value of low-tech learning....

The post What the Revival of Barnes and Noble Can Teach Us about Gen Z and Technology appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-gen-z/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noFor years, educational technology has promised to make learning faster, more personalized, and more efficient. On some respect, it has delivered on those promises. But as concerns about screen time and student engagement continue to grow, more educators are rediscovering the value of low-tech learning.... The post What the Revival of Barnes and Noble Can Teach Us about Gen Z and Technology appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerFor years, educational technology has promised to make learning faster, more personalized, and more efficient. On some respect, it has delivered on those promises. But as concerns about screen time and student engagement continue to grow, more educators are rediscovering the value of low-tech learning.... The post What the Revival of Barnes and Noble Can Teach Us about Gen Z and Technology appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college Embracing the Low Tech Revolution https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-revolution/ https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-revolution/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:17:18 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66879 This is the first in my summer series I’m calling Low Tech Learning. In today’s podcast and article, I explore the negative aspects of a tech-centric environment and the movement toward going low tech. I also want to provide some nuance and balance to set...

The post Embracing the Low Tech Revolution appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> https://spencereducation.com/low-tech-revolution/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noThis is the first in my summer series I’m calling Low Tech Learning. In today’s podcast and article, I explore the negative aspects of a tech-centric environment and the movement toward going low tech. I also want to provide some nuance and balance to set... The post Embracing the Low Tech Revolution appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerThis is the first in my summer series I’m calling Low Tech Learning. In today’s podcast and article, I explore the negative aspects of a tech-centric environment and the movement toward going low tech. I also want to provide some nuance and balance to set... The post Embracing the Low Tech Revolution appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college Q&A: The Big Questions We’re Asking About AI in Education https://spencereducation.com/qa-the-big-questions-were-asking-about-ai-in-education/ https://spencereducation.com/qa-the-big-questions-were-asking-about-ai-in-education/#respond Sun, 24 May 2026 19:35:14 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66870 This week, I’m doing something different with my blog and my podcast. I’ve compiled a list of the most common questions I get about AI when I’m teaching courses and leading professional development on the topic. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog...

The post Q&A: The Big Questions We’re Asking About AI in Education appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> https://spencereducation.com/qa-the-big-questions-were-asking-about-ai-in-education/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noThis week, I’m doing something different with my blog and my podcast. I’ve compiled a list of the most common questions I get about AI when I’m teaching courses and leading professional development on the topic. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog... The post Q&A: The Big Questions We’re Asking About AI in Education appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerThis week, I’m doing something different with my blog and my podcast. I’ve compiled a list of the most common questions I get about AI when I’m teaching courses and leading professional development on the topic. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog... The post Q&A: The Big Questions We’re Asking About AI in Education appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college When Should We Avoid Implementing PBL? https://spencereducation.com/not-use-pbl-2/ https://spencereducation.com/not-use-pbl-2/#respond Thu, 07 May 2026 23:24:18 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66863 If you have followed my blog for any amount of time, you’ll know that I am a huge proponent of project based learning (or PBL for short). I have a PBL hub with articles and resources you can access. I conduct PBL workshops, keynotes, and...

The post When Should We Avoid Implementing PBL? appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> https://spencereducation.com/not-use-pbl-2/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noIf you have followed my blog for any amount of time, you’ll know that I am a huge proponent of project based learning (or PBL for short). I have a PBL hub with articles and resources you can access. I conduct PBL workshops, keynotes, and... The post When Should We Avoid Implementing PBL? appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerIf you have followed my blog for any amount of time, you’ll know that I am a huge proponent of project based learning (or PBL for short). I have a PBL hub with articles and resources you can access. I conduct PBL workshops, keynotes, and... The post When Should We Avoid Implementing PBL? appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college Contextual Thinking is Becoming Vital in the Age of AI https://spencereducation.com/contextual-thinking/ https://spencereducation.com/contextual-thinking/#respond Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:46:56 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=66850 Authentic learning has always required a connection to a real context. However, in a generative age, where AI cannot “read the room,” contextual thinking has become more important than ever. In this article and podcast episode, I explore the implications of this and share six...

The post Contextual Thinking is Becoming Vital in the Age of AI appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> https://spencereducation.com/contextual-thinking/feed/ 0 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noAuthentic learning has always required a connection to a real context. However, in a generative age, where AI cannot “read the room,” contextual thinking has become more important than ever. In this article and podcast episode, I explore the implications of this and share six... The post Contextual Thinking is Becoming Vital in the Age of AI appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerAuthentic learning has always required a connection to a real context. However, in a generative age, where AI cannot “read the room,” contextual thinking has become more important than ever. In this article and podcast episode, I explore the implications of this and share six... The post Contextual Thinking is Becoming Vital in the Age of AI appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college How to Be Proactive About Classroom Management in PBL https://spencereducation.com/pbl-classroom-management/ https://spencereducation.com/pbl-classroom-management/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:40:13 +0000 https://spencereducation.com/?p=64372 The post How to Be Proactive About Classroom Management in PBL appeared first on Spencer Education.

]]> https://spencereducation.com/pbl-classroom-management/feed/ 4 john@spencerauthor.com (John Spencer)noThe post How to Be Proactive About Classroom Management in PBL appeared first on Spencer Education.John SpencerThe post How to Be Proactive About Classroom Management in PBL appeared first on Spencer Education.creativity,education,design,thinking,student,engagement,teaching,learning,K12,education,college