The Creative Classroom with John Spencer John Spencer

Cognitive atrophy happens any time we lose the ability to engage in a mental process due to inactivity. In a world of Artificial Intelligence, we need to be cognizant of the dangers of cognitive atrophy so that we can continue to engage in curiosity, creativity,... The post How to Prevent AI from Doing All the Thinking appeared first on John Spencer.

In my latest episode, Grace Hawthorne, author of Make Possibilities Happen, shares practical insights into how to spark creativity in students. She has a wealth of knowledge and shares key insights throughout this episode. Listen to the Podcast If you enjoy this blog but you’d... The post Grace Hawthorne on How to Make Possibilities Happen appeared first on John Spencer.

Terms like “game-changing” and “disruptive” have become cliche in technology circles. As educators, we’ve seen the hype of 1:1 devices, paperless classrooms, interactive whiteboards, and a host of different education fads. However, AI feels different. We are living in a cultural moment where generative AI... The post Rethinking Information Literacy in an Age of AI appeared first on John Spencer.

When I was in my second year of teacher, I wanted so badly to implement PBL. This, despite the fact that I didn’t know the term “project-based learning.” I simply knew that I wanted students to engage in meaningful projects where they learn the content... The post Making Time for Project-Based Learning (PBL) appeared first on John Spencer.

A few years ago, I met a chef and asked him, “So, bay leaves? Do they even have a point? You can’t taste them. You have to take them out. They seem to get in the way.” He shook his head and said, “Nah, it’s... The post What Are the Bay Leaves of Education? appeared first on John Spencer.

Deliberate practice and deliberate skill are two different approaches to developing skills. One is more structured and the other is more connective. One is more targeted and efficient while other other is more connective and holistic. While it’s easy to view these as opposing approaches,... The post Deliberate Practice or Deliberate Play? appeared first on John Spencer.