PODCAST

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

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.

education k-12

All Episodes

How Deeper Learning Can Address Summer Learning Loss

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/08/22

Every year, we hear news reports about the “summer slide,” or the summer learning loss. Students arrive to school behind where they left off in May or June. This is a real challenge. But there’s more to the story. So, in this week’s article, I...The post How Deeper Learning Can Address Summer Learning Loss appeared first on John Spencer.

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Why Deeper Learning Is a Critical Advantage in the...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/04/30

The future is unpredictable. 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 to prepare students...The post Why Deeper Learning Is a Critical Advantage in the Age of AI appeared first on John Spencer.

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In a World of AI, Content Curation Is More Important...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/04/22

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.

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Sam Marsden on the Value of Improv Games to Spark...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/04/16

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.

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We Want Students to Be Creative, But How Do We Assess...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/04/08

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.

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Centaurs, Cyborgs, and Coffee-Bearded Logos – Seven...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/04/02

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.

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Ten Ways to Use AI for Deeper Learning and Mastery

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/03/26

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.

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Lynn Cashell on How She Integrated AI into Genius Hour

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/03/13

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.

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Jed Dearybury on the Power of a Playful Mindset...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2025/03/03

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.

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Designing Systems that Reduce Distractions and...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/11/14

In my last article, I described the need for focused learning. It was the kick-off to a series I’m called The Concentration Code. This week, I explore how we can design systems and structures that support sustained, focused work and deeper learning. Listen to the...The post Designing Systems that Reduce Distractions and Improve Focused Learning appeared first on John Spencer.

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The Five Biggest Pitfalls of Collaborative Grouping...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/10/16

We’ve all been there before. You’re working with a few other people and everything just seems to click. It might be on a ball field or court. Or it might be in a jam session or a rehearsal for live theater. If you’re lucky, it...The post The Five Biggest Pitfalls of Collaborative Grouping (And How to Avoid Them) appeared first on John Spencer.

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How do you come up with great project ideas? (Four...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/10/10

I love to come up with project ideas. The brainstorming process feels a bit like going to a candy store, where I get to peruse past experiences, seek out new interests, find materials, and feel inspired by whatever pops up. Or better yet, it’s more... The post How do you come up with great project ideas? (Four Starting Places) appeared first on John Spencer.

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Making the Most of Community Partnerships in PBL

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/10/03

In PBL, we often think about the role of a public product. However, community involvement is actually something we can embed into every area of the PBL process. In this week’s article and podcast, we take a deep dive into how we can make this...The post Making the Most of Community Partnerships in PBL appeared first on John Spencer.

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AI Won’t Replace Teachers But It Will Transform...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/09/25

Note that this isn’t simply the question, “How will AI change teaching in the future?” This starts with the question, “How is AI already changing the teaching profession?” Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d like to listen to it on...The post AI Won’t Replace Teachers But It Will Transform Nearly Every Aspect of the Job appeared first on John Spencer.

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How Will AI Transform the Teaching Profession? Four...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/09/19

Machine learning is changing our world in profound ways. It will impact the way we learn and the way we teach. In today’s article and podcast, I want share a few big ideas on what that might look like. I’ll share some questions we might... The post How Will AI Transform the Teaching Profession? Four Trends to Consider appeared first on John Spencer.

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Seven Questions to Ask Before Having Students Use AI...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/09/10

Artificial Intelligence can feel overwhelming. With so many tools and strategies, you might be wondering where to start or what to do. But I actually think that before we integrate AI into our lessons with students, we should ask some critical questions that will guide... The post Seven Questions to Ask Before Having Students Use AI Tools appeared first on John Spencer.

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Campfires or Fireworks? Which Story Will You Choose?

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/09/06

Perfectionism often creeps in because we buy into the wrong story about what it means to be a teacher. In this week’s article, I share two different stories that ultimately lead to either burnout or sustainability. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog... The post Campfires or Fireworks? Which Story Will You Choose? appeared first on John Spencer.

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5 Ways to Get to Know Your Students at the Start of...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/08/21

As an educator, you are a community builder. From day one, you getting to know your students on a relational level. It’s often in the little things, like sending an email the first time they miss a class period or sending a positive note home... The post 5 Ways to Get to Know Your Students at the Start of the School Year appeared first on John Spencer.

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Taking a Gradual Release (GRR) Approach to Student...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/08/14

If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I love to share sharing practical ways that we can empower our students to own the learning from day one. This is the core idea that AJ Juliani and I wrote about in our book Empower.... The post Taking a Gradual Release (GRR) Approach to Student Choice appeared first on John Spencer.

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Three Ways to Empower Students to Own the Classroom...

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer ·

2024/08/09

When AJ Juliani and I co-wrote the book Empower, we focused on the ways that students could own the learning process. It’s the core idea of shifting from being teacher-centered toward being more student-centered. We often talk about what it means to move from compliance... The post Three Ways to Empower Students to Own the Classroom Culture appeared first on John Spencer.

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The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

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