The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

I’m struggling with work right now. It’s not a toxic culture. I work with an amazing team of educators. It’s not the work itself, either. I’m not falling into the “busy” trap of doing tedious work that doesn’t fit my identity or my purpose. I... The post The Surprising Science of Project Fatigue (And How Teachers Can Help Prevent It) appeared first on John Spencer.

In this episode, I interview Ben Farrell, who shares the counterintuitive approach his school took with ChatGPT. Farrell is the assistant head of school at New England Innovation Academy, the nation’s first human-centered design middle and high school. At NEIA, educators and students have already... The post Ben Farrell’s Surprising Approach to Students Using ChatGPT appeared first on John Spencer.

Last week, a friend of mine asked me, “Do you have any concerns about AI destroying the world and being the worst thing ever and then having people know that you were an early proponent of it?” This led to an ongoing conversation which eventually... The post Will AI Cause More Harm Than Good? appeared first on John Spencer.

I recently had the honor of interviewing Shark Tank star and entrepreneur Daymond John. He just released a children’s book that I’m really excited about. In this podcast episode, he talks about rethinking financial literacy and entrepreneurship for children. Check out the interview below. Listen... The post Interview with Shark Tank Star and Entrepreneur Daymond John appeared first on John Spencer.

In this podcast episode, I interview information literacy expert Jennifer Lagarde. We explore what it means to navigate the everchanging media landscape in a world of AI. I’m a huge fan of the books that she co-wrote with Darren Hudgins. I hope you enjoy this... The post Jennifer Lagarde on the Future of Information Literacy in a World of Smart Machines appeared first on John Spencer.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Mark Schneider (during of the Institute of Education Sciences) shares how data and AI are changing education. We explore future trends that we may see in the upcoming years. There were some fascinating things I hadn’t considered, like what it... The post Mark Schneider on the Role of Data and AI in the Future of Learning appeared first on John Spencer.

With the emergence of generative AI, we now have newer concerns around deep fakes and misinformation. Older, more traditional approaches simply won’t work given the new media landscape. In this podcast episode, I interview an educational technology expert and professor Alec Couros. He offers some... The post Dr. Alec Couros on Redefining Information Literacy In An Era of AI appeared first on John Spencer.

Eight students stood in line whispering to one another and fidgeting in excitement. A few of them had peeked into the windows to see what was new. One girl had a tiny notebook with a list. Most of the students had pulled out their phones... The post What Does Personalized Learning Look Like in an Age of Smart Machines? #ChatGPT appeared first on John Spencer.

“What do you think all of this means for the future?” a friend asks. We’d been talking about ChatGPT for nearly an hour but suddenly it starts to hit closer to home. “I don’t know,” I answer. “I mean, our kids are about to go... The post We Can’t Predict How A.I. Will Change Learning #ChatGPT appeared first on John Spencer.

In my latest podcast episode, I interview Donalyn Miller on what it means to take a student-centered approach in English Language Arts. Donalyn is one of my education heroes, so I totally nerded out in getting to interview her on my podcast. Listen to the... The post Donalyn Miller Shares How to Empower Readers with Voice and Choice appeared first on John Spencer.

Four years ago, we adopted Jasmine, a retired racing greyhound. We knew we wanted a dog that was lower energy, more introverted, and less likely to bark. We had done our research ahead of time and we knew she would be a good choice for... The post What Our Adopted Greyhound Taught Me About Life, Learning, and Creativity appeared first on John Spencer.

Each year, I choose a single word to focus on as my “one word.” I realize this might sound cheesy but I find it helpful. Having a single word helps me stay focused on a general theme for the year. I typically create visual reminders.... The post Launching Into the New Year appeared first on John Spencer.

Three years ago, I stood in a high-tech lab at a technical university and stared at the giant flat screen monitor. The professor asked me, “Can you tell me which of these samples was generated via Artificial Intelligence?” At the top, a student had asked... The post Human Skills in a World of Artificial Intelligence appeared first on John Spencer.

In my first year of teaching, my mentor said something I’ll never forget. I taught a lesson that tanked. It was awful. I literally did everything wrong. It was the cringiest of cringe and I shared every detail with him over a coffee. I expected... The post Always Teach in Beta appeared first on John Spencer.

It’s 4:25 p.m. and I’ve been working nonstop since 7:00 a.m. this morning. Actually, that’s not entirely true. On three separate occasions, I close my laptop, lace up my running shoes, and head for a walk in the brisk fall air. I absorb the sun’s... The post Designing PBL to Decrease Cognitive Load appeared first on John Spencer.