I attended SXSW EDU and spoke at the Instructional Technology Council conference. Different audiences. Different formats. But a common theme emerged: The power of making thinking visible. At SXSW EDU, I observed sessions focused on accessibility and design, about rethinking everyday objects, sketching ideas in real time, and creating experiences that encourage participation rather than passive consumption. In my own session, I took a similar approach. No slides. No lecture. J

Last week in my Principles of Marketing class, we used LEGO® Serious Play® to explore segmentation, and not one PowerPoint slide was used. Instead of asking students to define segments, I asked them to build a student  in a specific campus-based scenario. What emerged wasn’t demographics. It was behavior. They discussed differences in: Motivation Lifestyle constraints Social needs Budget realities Decision drivers Then, in groups, they selected one segment and built a concept

Creativity Lives in All of Us This holiday break, I rediscovered something I didn’t expect: I am  more creative than I ever believed I was. I’ve always identified as a creative, left-handed, right-brained, out-of-the-box thinker. But I never considered myself artistic. That title seemed reserved for people with steady hands, perfect lines, and natural talent. Then this break happened. Giving Myself Permission to Try On my dining room table: A gingerbread village Two painted s

Last week, during the week before Thanksgiving, when every student in my Principles of Marketing class would have preferred to be anywhere but in a classroom, I did something unconventional. I bought chocolate sweaters, yes, actual edible chocolate shaped and decorated to look like ugly Christmas sweaters, and gave them to my students with a simple challenge: Work in teams. Design. Market. Sell. Over two class periods, something remarkable happened. One team decided their cho

This summer, I immersed myself in one of my favorite themes: play. I had the opportunity to attend three play conferences—two in the U.S. and one in England and each experience was a mix of informative and enjoyable. What struck me most was the creativity and boldness of the educators I met, coming from all over the world. They are pushing the boundaries of what a classroom can look like. From escape rooms that challenge students to problem-solve, to "who dunnit" mysteries th

Travel is always where I find perspective, and this summer took me to two very different places: Sevilla and Japan. Sevilla is my heart’s...

The conversations around education this summer were buzzing with one particular theme: AI. It’s clear that artificial intelligence is not...

This summer, I immersed myself in one of my favorite themes: play. I had the opportunity to attend three play conferences—two here in the...