The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

Creative collaboration can be challenging at every every level of education. Sometimes the issue is work imbalance, with one student doing the majority of the work while others slack off. The term organizational psychology is “cognitive loafing.” In some cases, it can feel like one... The post Four Ways to Boost Collaboration in Student Projects appeared first on John Spencer.

Teachers have been using student jobs for years but sometimes a classic idea can use a makeover in an age of hybrid learning, remote learning, and blended learning. In this podcast episode, I interview Thom Gibson, who has thought strategically about how to use classroom... The post Thom Gibson on Designing Student Jobs that Empower the Classroom Community appeared first on John Spencer.

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.

In our world, we have these rules that creative types are supposed to follow. However, Austin Kleon, a self-described, “writer who draws,” takes those rules and tears them to shreds. Or maybe not. Maybe he turns them upside down or folds them into a paper... The post Austin Kleon on the Surprising Truths About Creativity appeared first on John Spencer.

When I was a kid, I loved watching reality TV. Okay, it wasn’t really reality TV. It was PBS. However, I would watch an entire season of This Old House, as Bob Vila walked viewers step-by-step through a cumbersome restoration process. This never included a... The post Students Should Share Their Process, Not Just Their Product appeared first on John Spencer.

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 Play for All Ages (Interview) appeared first on John Spencer.

It’s supposed to snow this week, which reminds me of a moment four years ago when it snowed. We were from Phoenix, which meant our children had spent their lives  experiencing the two seasons of blazingly hot and nice. The only thing that changed color... The post Want Students to Be More Creative? Try Adding More Play. appeared first on John Spencer.

Last year, I began creating stickers, sweatshirts, and t-shirts with my own sketches on them. I figured it would be fun to give some t-shirts and stickers away when I do keynotes or workshops. But honestly, it wasn’t really about professional development. It was about... The post Treat Each Genius Hour Project as an Experiment appeared first on John Spencer.

It’s easy for a virtual class session to slip into a talking head approach. You turn on the camera and students see your face. At times, you might toggle back and forth between a slideshow and your camera but it can easily slip into something... The post The Power of Visible Thinking in Virtual Learning appeared first on John Spencer.

With the new year coming up, there’s a good chance you’re coming up with some resolutions. Personally, I like the idea of coming up with a few really easy New Year’s Resolutions just to make it easier when I bomb in another area. I think... The post A Different Way to Set Goals for the New Year appeared first on John Spencer.

Let’s just put it out there. December is exhausting for teachers. The days are shorter. The weather grows colder and (at least here in Oregon) wetter. Students are anxious — whether it’s a buzzing excitement for vacation or a sense of dread that some kids... The post End the Semester on a Creative Note appeared first on John Spencer.

At the start of this semester, I made a goal of meeting with each student one-on-one. I believe in the power of check-ins and I wanted to make sure my students felt known. I could tell you all about Anderson and Garrison’s research showing the... The post You’ve Done Enough This Semester appeared first on John Spencer.

Sometimes I wish I could go back in time to visit my 9-year old self and say, “Dude, you got this. Right now, it’s hard but someday you’ll be using your voice to make art. Trust me, it gets better. Way better.” I was in... The post 7 Ways to Build Creative Confidence in Students appeared first on John Spencer.

When I was a senior in high school, our AP Government teacher chose not to give us a final exam for the end of the first semester. Instead, we would create our own portfolios. Our portfolios had to include what we had learned and what... The post Getting Started with Student Portfolio Projects in Virtual and Hybrid Courses appeared first on John Spencer.

During this pandemic, many students have described feeling lonely and isolated as they shifted into online environments. This disconnect is amplified when distance learning courses are designed with only individual work in mind. This occurs when students access an asynchronous class and watch videos, read... The post Building an Empowered Community in Distance Learning Courses appeared first on John Spencer.