Since its creation in 1940, LEGO has grown into a worldwide phenomenon with ripples extending to the field of education. LEGO was created in Denmark and started as 'a set of stackable, interlocking colorful plastic pieces that can be assembled and re-assembled in a number of infinite possibilities'.
With its increasing popularity among kids and teens, LEGO decided to integrate educational products and curricula to allow teachers to use these game-based materials in their classrooms.
How is LEGO used in education? What educational benefits does it provide for kids ? What are the skills LEGO develops? The beautiful graphic created by the folks in onlinecollege.org has answers to these questions. Read on to learn more.
What Skills does LEGO develop?
According to the visual below, LEGO helps in developing the following skills
- Problem-solving, organization, and planning by construction
- LEGO teaches kids to think in three dimensions
- LEGO improves literacy as kids work with instructions
- LEGO provides tools that develop lateral thinking in a fun environment
- LEGO improves creativity
- LEGO enhances communication and critical thinking
- LEGO boosts kids motor development.
For scientific research papers on the importance of LEGO in education, check out:
- Use of LEGO© as a Therapeutic Medium for Improving Social Competence, by Daniel B. LeGoff, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Everybody’s monkey is important: LEGO® Serious Play® as a methodology for enabling equality of voice within diverse groups, by Sean McCusker, International Journal of Research & Method in Education
- The Use of Building Blocks to Teach Communication and Social Skills to First-year Pharmacy Students, by Shaun Wen Huey Lee and Pui San Saw, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education September 2021
- Lego Games Help Young Children with Autism Develop Social Skills, by Yanhui Pang, International Journal of Education
Source: onlinecollege.org