I want to see teachers transform classrooms into spaces of creativity and wonder. So, here's where I explore what it means to make this a reality.
Latest episodes
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Why Imitation Might Be the Key to Student Creativity
We often encourage students to be creative, think outside the box, and find their own voice. But what if one of the best ways to cultivate originality is to begin with imitation? C…
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We Can’t Empower Students by Disempowering Teachers
In my latest blog post, I contrast two types of professional development approaches. The first is a shame-based model that focuses on black and white thinking and sends the message…
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How Quantity Can Improve the Quality of Project-Based Learning
We often assume that improving the quality of student work means slowing down and spending more time on a single project. But sometimes the opposite is true. Creating more can actu…
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Why Constraints Make Us More Creative
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…
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5 Myths About Creativity
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…
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The Power of Routine Creativity
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 creat…
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Beyond Screen Time: The Low Tech Learning Matrix
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…
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The Power of Low-Tech Games and Simulations in the Classroom
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…
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The Best Makerspace Might Be Outside
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 n…
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Beyond Screen Time: What LAUSD’s New Policy Gets Right and Wrong
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 leve…
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When Personalized Learning Works Better Than Adaptive Learning
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 stude…
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What the Revival of Barnes and Noble Can Teach Us about Gen Z and Technology
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…