Reimagining education by
Learning Through Play
The role of education is to prepare students for future success. However, in an ever-changing world with new jobs and industries emerging all the time, how can we ensure that children have the skills they need for careers that may not yet exist?
Who would have thought that jobs like Podcaster, Drone Photographer, Sustainability Manager, VR Designer, Esports Coach or Genetic Counsellor would exist 20 years ago?
The fact that none of these jobs were mainstream two decades ago offers a powerful lesson: many of the most valuable and lucrative careers of the next twenty years likely haven’t been invented yet.
They will emerge from the intersection of significant global challenges, such as climate change, data privacy, personalised AI and biological engineering, technological tools that are currently in their infancy.
The reality is that much of how kids are taught in schools today is built on the post-industrial priorities of 60 years past, not on what forward-thinking companies need from candidates to thrive in the 21st century. Sure, the technology used in classrooms has come a long way, but rote learning and memorisation still make up a big part of the learning experience.
Skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and self-awareness can be complex to foster this way, but we cultivate them naturally when Learning Through Play.
Learning Through Play is a philosophy that emphasises the importance of play in a child’s development. Still, it’s not just because kids want to have fun – it’s a crucial way for them to learn and acquire the cognitive, social and emotional abilities that traditional classroom learning experiences often struggle to address.
That doesn’t mean essential subjects should be thrown out the window in favour of building with LEGO (although many of us might prefer it!), but that we should eagerly find ways to combine hands-on activities with curriculum guidance to create powerful, long-lasting learning outcomes.
Founded by the LEGO Group’s founding family to promote learning through play for children worldwide, The LEGO Foundation offers valuable resources for parents and educators to gain a deeper understanding of the science behind hands-on = minds-on education.
At STEMBricks.co.uk, we love LEGO Education because it combines the concept of Learning Through Play with cherished LEGO elements and fun, curriculum-aligned lesson plans that educators can use out of the box to deliver transformative learning experiences in STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) without the steep learning curve that prevents other teaching aids from making an impact quickly.
Because LEGO is so widely recognised and loved, teachers often see it as a toy, even when we repeatedly demonstrate that it can accomplish some complex tasks. LEGO Education SPIKE Essential and Prime, along with other products on the market, differ as they specifically teach coding and engineering concepts to schoolchildren. Many educators see the circuit boards, wires and microchips and feel out of their depth, but when it’s LEGO, everyone can play!
A holistic approach to learning goes beyond ensuring children can remember and recite information on predetermined topics and instead focuses on developing the whole child. The LEGO Learning System supports this in three distinctive ways:
Social development
Children work in groups to solve problems together. Some will be natural builders, whereas others will prefer reading and giving instructions or the coding aspect of SPIKE Essential and SPIKE Prime. Regardless of which role they choose, it creates an opportunity to collaborate, compromise and communicate to achieve a shared goal – just like we do every day in our own jobs!
Emotional development
During play, children learn about their strengths, weaknesses and how they respond to different situations. Because kids naturally view LEGO as a toy, it alleviates the stress that can accompany these encounters. It provides a safer environment in which to express their emotions in more constructive ways, adapt and grow with confidence to tackle the next challenge.
Physical development
We all know building with LEGO can feel fidgety – pulling bricks apart and putting them together in different ways to make something new – but in a world where kids spend more time tapping on screens than holding writing or drawing, this presents an excellent way for young children to develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Everyone should have the opportunity to play, regardless of their background or whether LEGO Education is used to deliver fun learning experiences. What’s most important is that children from all walks of life can realise that Science is exciting and that Engineering is fascinating, so they are encouraged to continue studying STEAM subjects and pursue careers they are passionate about with the skills they need to be superstars in their field.
LEGO Education is the best tool for the job!