Lego says only 1/3 of educators, parents believe students are engaged in learning

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

SUMMER VACATION IS OVER AND STUDENTS ARE RETURNING TO CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AS THEY BEGIN ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR – A NEW REPORT IS LOOKING INTO IF STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED WHILE IN CLASS AND HOW TEACHERS AND PARENTS CAN HELP BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE.

AND IT WORKS OUT THAT THE COMPANY BEHIND THIS REPORT IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH BUILDING – THAT BEING LEGO.

LEGO EDUCATION RELEASED ITS “STATE OF CLASSROOM ENGAGEMENT REPORT” THIS WEEK – GETTING INSIGHT FROM OVER 6 THOUSAND ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS FROM THE US AND FOUR OTHER COUNTRIES.

ACCORDING TO LEGO – ONLY ONE THIRD OF ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS SAY THEIR STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN LEARNING.

HERE’S HOW ENGAGEMENT IS DESCRIBED IN LEGO EDUCATION’S NEW SHORT FILM “WHAT DOES ENGAGEMENT LOOK LIKE?” THAT WAS RELEASED ALONG WITH THE REPORT.

“It is active. It is participatory.”

“Lots of talking.”

“Noisy.”

“They’re taller.”

“Spark and energy.”

“To me engagement looks like I’m happy to be here every day with you and I can’t wait to see what you learn and I learn and what we learn together.”

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT – ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS HAVE VARYING OPINIONS ON HOW TO ADDRESS DISENGAGED STUDENTS.

ADMINISTRATORS POINT TO THE CURRICULA NEEDING CHANGE – WITH 96 PERCENT BELIEVING NEW RESOURCES AND APPROACHES ARE NECESSARY TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT.

WHILE TEACHERS SEE A LACK OF TRAINING AS THE BIGGEST HURDLE.

EIGHT IN 10 TEACHERS SAY THEY WOULD BE HAPPIER IN THEIR CAREERS IF THEIR STUDENTS WERE MORE ENGAGED.

AND THE REPORT SAYS 47 PERCENT OF US ADMINISTRATORS BELIEVE THAT ABSENTEEISM AND OVERALL DECLINES IN ENROLLMENT – A TOPIC WE’VE BEEN REPORTING ON HERE AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – ARE RELATED TO STUDENTS BEING DISENGAGED.

NOW LEGO EDUCATION SAYS A WAY TO GET STUDENTS MORE ENGAGED IS BY LEARNING THROUGH PLAY – WHICH OF COURSE GOES WITH LEGO’S BRAND.

LEGO — THROUGH ITS LEGO FOUNDATION — HAS A WHOLE WEBSITE DEDICATED TO LEARNING THROUGH PLAY.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT – 89 PERCENT OF STUDENTS SAY THEIR FAVORITE WAY OF LEARNING IS THROUGH INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES.

OTHERS ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO PLAY AS A TOOL TO BENEFIT STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM INCLUDING HARVARD AND UNICEF.

A TEAM AT HARVARD’S GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION PUBLISHED A BOOK LAST YEAR BASED ON EIGHT YEARS OF RESEARCH LOOKING AT THE BENEFITS OF THE TECHNIQUE.

AND IN 2018 UNICEF RELEASED A BRIEF ON LEARNING THROUGH PLAY.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED BOTH OF THESE PUBLICATIONS WERE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LEGO FOUNDATION.

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