The Creative Classroom with John Spencer

Latest Episodes:

Why Constraints Make Us More Creative Sep 23, 2026

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We often assume that creativity requires freedom. Remove the rules, open up the possibilities, and let students run with their ideas. But sometimes the opposite is true. The right constraints can give us a starting point, push us beyond the obvious, and lead to possibilities...

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5 Myths About Creativity Sep 15, 2026

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Sometimes our biggest creative failures reveal what we actually believe about creativity. In fifth grade, a disastrous California Mission project forced me to rethink what it meant to be “creative.” Years later, I can see how many of my assumptions were actually common cultural myths:...

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The Power of Routine Creativity Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

We often picture creativity as something big and bold. It’s the ambitious project that draws in the entire community. It’s the big project that kids remember years later. But creativity doesn’t have to be an event. In fact, some of the most powerful creative thinking...

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Beyond Screen Time: The Low Tech Learning Matrix Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

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...

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The Power of Low-Tech Games and Simulations in the Classroom Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

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...

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The Best Makerspace Might Be Outside Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

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...

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Beyond Screen Time: What LAUSD’s New Policy Gets Right and Wrong Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

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...

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When Personalized Learning Works Better Than Adaptive Learning Jun 25, 2026

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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...

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What the Revival of Barnes and Noble Can Teach Us about Gen Z and Technology Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

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....

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Embracing the Low Tech Revolution Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

This is the first in my summer series I’m calling Low Tech Learning. In today’s podcast and article, I explore the negative aspects of a tech-centric environment and the movement toward going low tech. I also want to provide some nuance and balance to set...

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