It’s no secret that the world is changing. What was once a corporate ladder is now a maze. The bad news is the rules have changed. The good news? Our students get to rewrite those rules. But in this world of rapid change, our students will need to be creative thinkers and problem-solvers. And you get to help make that a reality.
As the teacher, you are the architect who can design the learning experiences that students remember for a lifetime. But epic projects require structures and strategies. If the goal is to empower students, the learning process is project-based learning, the creative process is design thinking, the space is a maker space (not just in STEM but a creative space for all subjects) and the mindset is vintage innovation.
My goal is not to tell you how to teach. You know your students best. You know the subject better than anyone else. You are the architect who can unleash the creative potential in all of your students so they can grow into the makers, designers, artists, and engineers who change the world. You are the architect designing the systems, experiences, and projects to make this a reality.
But architects need tools and that’s why I share the ideas and resources you might want to use as you design epic projects for your students.
You’ll also have access to free creative writing prompts, three types of projects, creative thinking structures, and a suite of assessment tools you can use from day one.
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Hi, I’m John Spencer.
I’m a former middle school teacher and current college professor and the author of books centered on creativity, student-centered learning, and innovation.
I want to see teachers unleash the creative potential in all of their students so that kids can be makers, designers, artists, and engineers. I explore research, interview educators from around the world, deconstruct systems, and study real-world examples of creativity in action to discover what works for students. Along the way, I share what I’m learning in books, podcasts, articles, animated videos, and classroom resources.
Over the last three years, I have had the opportunity to share this vision for creative classrooms all over the world, including the White House Future Ready Summit, a breakfast keynote at ISTE, and a TEDx Talk.
Get started with these free learning opportunities
Our students will need to be creative thinking, self-directed learners to navigate the complex systems of our world. Empower provides practical strategies to increase student ownership, voice, and choice.
Design thinking is a human-centered, empathy-driven process for creative work. The LAUNCH framework is a student-friendly design thinking framework you can use in your classroom.
When students engage in project-based learning, they learn how to create, collaborate, and think critically. They also learn lifelong skills such as research, inquiry, project-management, and iterative thinking.
Creativity can work in all subjects when students are inspired and empowered. This is why I’ve created creative thinking prompts to spark the love of writing. You can get 100+ writing prompts in a PowerPoint along with sketch-note video prompts.
© 2019 John Spencer
