Lego Serious Play Higher Education Case Study

Unlocking Potential: A Case Study of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in Higher Education

The challenge of engaging students in higher education and fostering deeper learning is a persistent one. Traditional lecture formats often struggle to capture the attention of a diverse student body with varying learning styles. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) emerges as a powerful alternative, providing a hands-on, minds-on approach that can unlock potential, enhance collaboration, and cultivate innovative thinking. This case study delves into the application of LSP in higher education, exploring its benefits, challenges, and providing a roadmap for successful implementation.

The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Methodology: A Brief Overview

Before exploring specific case studies, it's crucial to understand the core principles of the LSP methodology. LSP isn't simply playing with LEGO bricks; it's a facilitated process that leverages the power of metaphor and construction to unlock insights, foster communication, and solve complex problems.

• The Core Process: LSP typically follows a structured process:
  1. Challenge: The facilitator presents a specific question or challenge to the participants.
  2. Build: Participants individually construct a LEGO model that represents their understanding or response to the challenge.
  3. Share: Each participant shares their model and the story behind it with the group.
  4. Reflect: The group reflects on the individual models and stories, identifying common themes, insights, and potential solutions.
• Key Principles: Several key principles underpin the effectiveness of LSP:
  • Hands-on Thinking: The act of building with LEGO bricks engages participants' kinesthetic intelligence, allowing them to think with their hands and access deeper levels of understanding.
  • Metaphor and Storytelling: LEGO models act as metaphors, allowing participants to express complex ideas and emotions in a tangible and accessible way. Storytelling helps to bring these metaphors to life and connect them to real-world experiences.
  • Equal Voice: LSP fosters a more egalitarian environment where all participants have an equal opportunity to share their perspectives and contribute to the discussion.
  • Real-Time Strategy: The process encourages real-time strategy development, as participants can quickly prototype ideas, test assumptions, and adapt their approaches based on feedback.

Case Study 1: Enhancing Strategic Thinking in an MBA Program

• Context: A leading business school sought to enhance the strategic thinking capabilities of its MBA students. Traditional case study analysis, while valuable, often felt detached from real-world application.
• Implementation: LSP was integrated into a core strategy course. Students were tasked with building LEGO models representing their organization's current strategic position, its future aspirations, and the key challenges it faced in achieving its goals.
• Outcomes:
  • Deeper Understanding: Students demonstrated a deeper understanding of complex strategic concepts by translating them into tangible LEGO models.
  • Improved Communication: The LSP process fostered more effective communication among team members, as they were able to share their perspectives in a non-threatening and engaging way.
  • Increased Engagement: Student engagement levels significantly increased compared to traditional lecture-based sessions. The hands-on nature of LSP kept students actively involved and motivated.
  • Innovative Solutions: The process generated a wider range of innovative solutions to strategic challenges, as students were encouraged to think outside the box and experiment with different ideas.
• Key Takeaways: This case study highlights the potential of LSP to enhance strategic thinking by making abstract concepts more concrete, fostering communication, and promoting innovation.

Case Study 2: Fostering Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research

• Context: A university research center aimed to foster collaboration among researchers from diverse disciplines, including engineering, computer science, and social sciences.
• Implementation: An LSP workshop was organized to facilitate cross-disciplinary communication and identify common research interests. Researchers were asked to build LEGO models representing their individual research areas and the potential for collaboration with other disciplines.
• Outcomes:
  • Bridging Disciplinary Gaps: LSP helped bridge communication gaps between researchers from different disciplines by providing a common language and a shared platform for discussion.
  • Identifying Synergies: The workshop facilitated the identification of potential synergies between different research areas, leading to new collaborative projects.
  • Enhanced Team Cohesion: The shared experience of building and sharing LEGO models fostered a sense of camaraderie and enhanced team cohesion among the researchers.
  • Increased Creativity: The playful nature of LSP stimulated creativity and encouraged researchers to think about their work in new and innovative ways.
• Key Takeaways: This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of LSP in fostering collaboration in interdisciplinary research by breaking down communication barriers, identifying synergies, and promoting a more creative and collaborative environment.

Case Study 3: Developing Leadership Skills in Student Organizations

• Context: A university student affairs department sought to develop leadership skills among student organization leaders. Traditional leadership training programs often failed to resonate with students.
• Implementation: LSP workshops were incorporated into the leadership training program. Students were challenged to build LEGO models representing their leadership style, their vision for their organization, and the challenges they faced in leading their peers.
• Outcomes:
  • Self-Awareness: Students gained a deeper understanding of their own leadership strengths and weaknesses through the process of building and reflecting on their LEGO models.
  • Improved Communication: LSP enhanced communication skills by providing a safe and supportive environment for students to share their perspectives and receive feedback from their peers.
  • Conflict Resolution: The workshops facilitated the development of conflict resolution skills by providing students with opportunities to practice navigating difficult conversations and finding common ground.
  • Increased Confidence: Students reported increased confidence in their leadership abilities as a result of participating in the LSP workshops.
• Key Takeaways: This case study highlights the potential of LSP to develop leadership skills in student organizations by fostering self-awareness, improving communication, and building confidence.

Case Study 4: Improving Design Thinking Skills in Engineering Education

• Context: An engineering department wanted to enhance students' design thinking abilities, moving beyond purely technical skills to incorporate creativity and user-centered design principles.
• Implementation: LSP was integrated into a design course, where students used LEGO bricks to prototype and iterate on potential solutions to engineering challenges. They were tasked with building models representing user needs, design concepts, and potential manufacturing processes.
• Outcomes:
  • Enhanced Creativity: Students demonstrated increased creativity in their design solutions, as the hands-on nature of LSP encouraged them to experiment with different ideas and approaches.
  • Improved Communication: The LSP process facilitated more effective communication between students, allowing them to share their design ideas and receive feedback from their peers.
  • User-Centered Design: Students developed a stronger understanding of user-centered design principles by building models that represented user needs and testing their designs with potential users.
  • Rapid Prototyping: LSP enabled rapid prototyping, allowing students to quickly create and iterate on design solutions without the need for complex software or expensive materials.
• Key Takeaways: This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of LSP in improving design thinking skills in engineering education by fostering creativity, improving communication, and promoting user-centered design principles.

Overcoming Challenges and Ensuring Successful Implementation

While the potential benefits of LSP in higher education are significant, successful implementation requires careful planning and attention to potential challenges.

• Resistance to Play: Some students and faculty may be skeptical about the value of playing with LEGO bricks in a serious academic setting. Overcoming this resistance requires clear communication about the purpose and benefits of LSP, as well as a skilled facilitator who can create a safe and engaging environment.
• Facilitator Training: Effective facilitation is crucial for the success of LSP workshops. Facilitators need to be trained in the LSP methodology and possess strong communication, facilitation, and group dynamics skills.
• Time Constraints: LSP workshops can be time-consuming, especially when working with large groups. It's important to allocate sufficient time for the building, sharing, and reflection phases of the process.
• Accessibility: Ensuring that LSP workshops are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities, is essential. This may require providing alternative building materials or adapting the facilitation approach.
• Integration with Curriculum: For LSP to be truly effective, it needs to be integrated into the curriculum in a meaningful way. This requires careful consideration of the learning objectives and the alignment of LSP activities with course content.

Strategies for Successful Implementation:

• Start Small: Begin with pilot projects in specific courses or departments to demonstrate the value of LSP and build momentum.
• Train Faculty: Provide faculty with training in the LSP methodology to empower them to integrate it into their teaching.
• Communicate Effectively: Clearly communicate the purpose and benefits of LSP to students and faculty to address any skepticism or resistance.
• Create a Supportive Environment: Foster a safe and engaging environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas and experimenting with different approaches.
• Debrief and Reflect: Allocate time for debriefing and reflection after each LSP activity to consolidate learning and identify areas for improvement.
• Measure Impact: Track the impact of LSP on student learning, engagement, and other relevant outcomes to demonstrate its value and justify further investment.

The Neurological Basis of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

The effectiveness of LSP isn't just anecdotal; it's supported by neurological research that sheds light on how the methodology engages different parts of the brain.

• Kinesthetic Learning: Building with LEGO bricks activates the kinesthetic cortex, which is responsible for processing movement and spatial information. This hands-on engagement enhances learning and memory retention.
• Visual-Spatial Processing: The process of visualizing and constructing LEGO models stimulates the visual-spatial cortex, improving spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Emotional Engagement: The act of storytelling and sharing LEGO models activates the limbic system, which is responsible for processing emotions. This emotional engagement fosters deeper connections and enhances learning.
• Executive Functions: Planning, organizing, and executing the building process engages the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, and goal-setting.

By engaging these different parts of the brain, LSP promotes a more holistic and integrated learning experience, leading to deeper understanding and improved performance.

The Future of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in Higher Education

The potential of LSP in higher education is just beginning to be realized. As educators continue to seek innovative ways to engage students and foster deeper learning, LSP is likely to play an increasingly important role.

• Integration with Online Learning: LSP can be adapted for online learning environments using virtual LEGO building platforms and online collaboration tools.
• Applications in New Disciplines: LSP can be applied to a wider range of disciplines, including healthcare, law, and the humanities.
• Development of Advanced LSP Techniques: Researchers are developing advanced LSP techniques that leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance the process.
• Focus on Sustainability: LSP can be used to address complex sustainability challenges by engaging stakeholders in collaborative problem-solving.

As the methodology evolves and its applications expand, LSP is poised to transform higher education by creating more engaging, collaborative, and innovative learning experiences for students around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in Higher Education

• What are the benefits of using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in higher education?

  LSP can enhance student engagement, foster collaboration, promote creative problem-solving, improve communication skills, and deepen understanding of complex concepts.

• Is LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® just for younger students?

  No, LSP is a powerful methodology that can be effectively used with learners of all ages, including university students and professionals. The key is to tailor the challenges and facilitation approach to the specific audience.

• How much does it cost to implement LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®?

  The cost of implementing LSP depends on the scale of the implementation. Factors to consider include the cost of LEGO bricks, facilitator training, and workshop materials. However, the long-term benefits of LSP can outweigh the initial investment.

• How do I get started with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®?

  The best way to get started is to attend a certified LSP facilitator training program. This will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to effectively facilitate LSP workshops.

• Can LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® be used online?

  Yes, LSP can be adapted for online learning environments using virtual LEGO building platforms and online collaboration tools.

Conclusion: Building a Brighter Future with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® offers a powerful and engaging approach to learning and development in higher education. By leveraging the power of hands-on thinking, metaphor, and storytelling, LSP can unlock potential, foster collaboration, and cultivate innovative thinking. While challenges exist, careful planning and effective facilitation can ensure successful implementation. As higher education continues to evolve, LSP is poised to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of learning and preparing students for success in a complex and rapidly changing world. The case studies presented here offer compelling evidence of the transformative potential of LSP, demonstrating its ability to enhance strategic thinking, foster collaboration, develop leadership skills, and improve design thinking abilities. By embracing the principles of LSP, educators can create more engaging, collaborative, and impactful learning experiences that empower students to reach their full potential and build a brighter future.