Spencer Education Spark Curiosity. Ignite Creativity. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:33:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://spencereducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cropped-icon-copy-32x32.png Spencer Education 32 32 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 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 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 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...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/personalized-or-adaptive/feed/ 0 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....

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

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

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/qa-the-big-questions-were-asking-about-ai-in-education/feed/ 0 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...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/not-use-pbl-2/feed/ 0 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...

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]]> https://spencereducation.com/contextual-thinking/feed/ 0 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.

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