The LEGO Foundation aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow; a mission that it shares with the LEGO Group. The LEGO Foundation is dedicated to building a future where learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners. When children learn through play, they do so in a hands-on, minds-on way. They explore the world around them and discover how it works. Often this is with some kind of object in hand, or some kind of tool they can use to dissect, explore, and create. And since all tools – whether natural, traditional, electronic, or digital – are types of technology, we should consider the role that all of these technologies play in supporting learning through play. Digital play can foster imagination, creative thinking, problem solving, persistence, resilience and inquisitiveness, which are all skills needed to navigate an uncertain and complex world.
The LEGO Foundation Resources:
Characteristics of playful experiences that lead to deeper learning
30 years of collaboration towards empowering children to be creative thinkers
In this session, the LEGO Foundation presenters created stories using stop motion animation! Attendees learned how to make a narrative-driven animation using everyday materials while hearing about making and tinkering experiences around the world. To prepare, attendees downloaded this app (https://www.cateater.com/, it’s free!) and gathered toys, everyday household objects, colorful paper, drawing pens, and your mobile phone to create a stop motion movie. Presenters also shared projects made during the session and hear reflections from the team on the importance of tinkering as an approach to STEAM and creative learning.
Presenters
The Playful Learning Lab is currently in a multi-year residency at the Minnesota Children’s Museum working on playful family interactions, and a partnership with Metro Deaf School and the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf developing art and technology programming for Deaf children. Playful Learning Lab has a line of different projects that are carried out by a team of undergraduate research students, affiliated educators, and community partners.
Presenters: