The Creative Classroom with John Spencer
Jun 25, 2026 · 0 min · 10 segments
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…
John SpencerHost
Without further ado, let's dive into this week's topic, which is all about when personalized learning works better than adaptive learning.
Eight students stood in line whispering to one another and fidgeting in excitement.
But this wasn't a concert or a line to buy a smartphone or the front gate of a sporting event.
I had heard that this place kept reading fun, and the library was the epicenter of this idea of fun reading experiences.
And if you're imagining a school that's, you know, an elite private school, we were a Title I low-income public school.
A boy walked up to me and asked, "What are you gonna get?" "Oh, I already have a book I'm reading," I answered.
Everyone leaves with at least two books, but not more than four." [chuckles] "Is that a rule?" I asked.
Right then, the librarian opened the door, and the students streamed in quietly 'cause it's a library.
They scurried from display to display, reading the back covers and debating which books would work best, and our librarian seemed to embrace the noise as she called out specific books and named specific kids.
Without further ado, let's dive into this week's topic, which is all about when personalized learning works better than adaptive learning.
Eight students stood in line whispering to one another and fidgeting in excitement.
But this wasn't a concert or a line to buy a smartphone or the front gate of a sporting event.
I had heard that this place kept reading fun, and the library was the epicenter of this idea of fun reading experiences.
And if you're imagining a school that's, you know, an elite private school, we were a Title I low-income public school.
A boy walked up to me and asked, "What are you gonna get?" "Oh, I already have a book I'm reading," I answered.
Everyone leaves with at least two books, but not more than four." [chuckles] "Is that a rule?" I asked.
Right then, the librarian opened the door, and the students streamed in quietly 'cause it's a library.
They scurried from display to display, reading the back covers and debating which books would work best, and our librarian seemed to embrace the noise as she called out specific books and named specific kids.
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