LAUNCH
Into Design Thinking

“Educators and administrators are realizing that twenty-first-century education systems must change to focus on students being creators, innovators, and producers rather than passive receivers and consumers of often outdated information. It is driven by the belief and mindset that all students (and their teachers) can be creative; that everyone can be makers. John Spencer and A.J. Juliani have written an accessible and practical guide on how educators can integrate design thinking and making into their classroom-teaching strategies. The LAUNCH framework that they present has the potential to dramatically change classrooms to be more engaging, student centric, and most of all, fun!"

“Spencer and Juliani are simultaneously bold and practical. They challenge the status quo of traditional classroom thinking while also holding the reader's hand through the day-to-day educational application of design thinking techniques. If you're ready to tap into the inherent creativity of all children (and teachers) and apply new lenses to learning and teaching, you'll learn a lot from this book.”

"LAUNCH will ignite the creative catalyst in every teacher who picks it up. LAUNCH is a digestible resource on the practice of designing thinking and how it can inspire the inherent maker in students. The result: teachers who design learning environments that inspire the humanity in all our students to think and act with compassion and creativity."

“Learn how to launch your own creative projects. John Spencer and A.J. Juliani have written a book that might not just launch learning in your classroom, but might just launch you to create the classroom of your dreams. Learning matters. You need the creativity to make it happen. Here's that book.”

“For educators who value classrooms in which student choice and ownership of learning are non-negotiables, LAUNCH serves as a mentor resource for implementing these methods through design thinking and student-friendly motivational practices. A.J. and John thoughtfully wrote this book to empower creative, risk-taking teachers around the world who want to inspire innovation and think outside of traditional classroom practices.”

“LAUNCH is a much-needed book to bring classrooms to life! The authors provide practical ideas, resources, and tips for teachers who want their learners to be creative, engaged, and innovative. Any teacher, even those who do not feel they are creative, will be inspired by the authors' personal stories and examples.”

“If you are looking for a book with practical advice on how to embrace, empower, and unleash student creativity and innovation, LAUNCH is that book. Spencer and Juliani have created a clear roadmap to ‘launch’ your classroom with practical examples grounded in sound educational pedagogy.”

“In this increasingly connected world, educators may find themselves drowning in a sea of buzzwords.  While we know that innovation and creativity are optimal, sometimes it's difficult to find an entry point to integrate best practices into our classrooms. This text, crafted by John and A.J., provides educators with a series of actionable steps regarding design thinking, while simultaneously dispelling common myths and dissolving perceived roadblocks to success.”

"A brilliant and much-needed solution to a real problem. A fun and inspiring read, LAUNCH is a great way to organize curriculum, with useful lesson plan suggestions, too."

"The future GIP (global innovation products) depend on more and more people developing and sharing their creative confidence and capacity to make. In their new book, Spencer and Juliani graciously share a fabulous dimension of their collaborative innovation engine for enhancing GIP—and bettering education. For me, their work strikes a powerful synthesis, combining the inspirational and the practical. With the chapters and various tools provided in LAUNCH, people in schools and other learning organizations will feel encouraged to build their own creative abilities and share the tender and fuel of growth mindset with others. Educators and facilitators will feel empowered to act and experiment because of the great scaffolding and materials the authors share.”

“LAUNCH: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student provides a framework that is poised to spark a creative movement in schools across the world! It is a practical and valuable resource that is sure to unleash the creative power in all of our learners!”