‘ Brighter future ’
How schools can increase student engagement with in STEM
By LEGO Education
The past few years have been filled with challenges for teachers and students as they navigate a new way of learning .
Teachers have had a particularly hard time as the needs of students and schools rapidly change , and they are required to adapt just as fast .
Digital needs in the classroom are evolving almost daily , and STEAM subjects are increasingly critical in the effort to future-proof students making it clear that teachers need tools that will seamlessly integrate into their classrooms and strengthen learning outcomes - without requiring much preparation time .
For more than 40 years LEGO ® Education has been developing solutions and resources made to support the classroom teacher as they bring STEAM to life for their students through hands-on purposeful play .
With curriculum-aligned STEAM lessons and familiar LEGO bricks LEGO Education provides students the opportunity to get hands-on and engaged in their learning .
Right now , teachers and schools are focused on ensuring that students are equipped with the STEAM skills needed to contribute to the future workforce .
According to the Education Commission , it ’ s estimated that by 2030 , more than half of the world ’ s children ( 800 million ) will not have the skills or qualifications necessary to participate in the emerging workforce .
This skills gap is already being addressed with STEM funding across much of Australia . However , teachers , particularly at the primary level , may feel overwhelmed or lack confidence when teaching topics like computer science or skills such as coding . Time in the classroom is limited , and teachers are under pressure to ensure they have covered all the key elements of the curriculum . The right methods and tools are critical to helping deliver key concepts in an engaging way .
Engaging students with hands-on , playful learning that builds skills for their future .
Hands-on playful learning has proven to be an easy and engaging approach to teach STEAM concepts .
The LEGO ® Foundation found that when teachers bring play into the classroom , it allows students to satisfy a basic human need to express imagination , curiosity , and creativity , which are key resources in a knowledge-driven world ( UNICEF , 2018 ).
These experiences are the building blocks of the complex 21st-century skills they ’ ll need in the future . Not only does learning through play build essential skills , but it also supports meaningful engagement , increasing student motivation and passion for learning .
BUILDING EDUCATOR CONFIDENCE WITH APPROACHABLE CLASSROOM SOLUTIONS LEGO Education developed training and tools specifically to ensure teachers feel confident as they implement hands-on playful learning in the classroom and enable them to help students realize their unlimited potential .
This is all done through the accessible and easy-to-use LEGO ® Learning System , an interconnected system of STEAM learning tools for primary and secondary school students .
The curriculum-aligned lessons incorporate future-focused skills like robotics and coding , allowing students to build important STEAM skills while reengaging them in their learning through hands-on playful lessons .
All LEGO Education lesson plans are ready to use and free for all teachers . With this research-backed learning system , abstract concepts become tangible as students move from simple explorations to tackling increasingly complex , real world challenges .
The LEGO Learning System provides an approachable solution to ease the added pressure put on teachers in today ’ s classrooms to incorporate STEAM and digital competence into everyday lessons .
While the idea of bringing robotics or coding into the classroom may feel overwhelming , teachers don ’ t need to be tech experts , the LEGO ® Learning System is intuitive and based on easily accessible web or app-based content and combined with familiar LEGO ® bricks and building elements .
PROVIDING SOLUTIONS THAT FIT THE NEEDS OF YOUR SCHOOL As teachers are tasked with increasingly digital and complex curriculum standards , LEGO Education provides an easy and seamless way to bring STEAM into the classroom .
The familiarity of the LEGO brick and the plethora of online resources and support for teachers means that STEAM learning will be happening in the classroom in no time . ■
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