The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

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... The post Beyond Screen Time: The Low Tech Learning Matrix appeared first on Spencer Education.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The post How to Be Proactive About Classroom Management in PBL appeared first on Spencer Education.

The post How to Design AI-Resistant Writing Before, During, and After the Writing Process appeared first on Spencer Education.

The post The Five Biggest Pitfalls of Collaborative Grouping (And How to Avoid Them) appeared first on Spencer Education.

The post The Problem with “They Didn’t Teach Us That in School” appeared first on Spencer Education.

The post The Power of Silent Discussions for Deeper Collaboration appeared first on Spencer Education.

The post The Five Biggest Fears that Kept Me from Empowering Students appeared first on Spencer Education.

In my latest episode, I talk to Susan M. Riley about what creativity looks like in a generative age. She talks about how it’s changing, why it’s important, and what creative thinking looks like in a K-12 classroom. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy... The post Susan M. Riley on the Power of Creativity in the Age of AI appeared first on Spencer Education.

Focus is no longer our default. It’s not something that tends to happen by accident anymore. In a culture built on notifications, infinite scroll, and instant answers, students need both a pull toward deeper thinking and a push away from the distractions that steal their... The post The Push and the Pull Needed to Help Students Focus appeared first on Spencer Education.

With AI becoming a helpful tool in education, it’s easy to see the benefits of quick access to information, personalized support, and the efficiency that technology can bring. However, as we embrace these tools, we also want to preserve and nurture the learning experiences that... The post The Human Advantage: Nine Skills We Can’t Afford to Lose in an AI-Powered World appeared first on Spencer Education.