STEM

Tufts U to Host Lego Learning Symposium

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 06/06/16

Tufts University is partnering with Lego to host a two-day event where teachers can share best practices for using Legos in literacy, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

Dubbed the Lego Learning Symposium, the event will take place at the university's Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) June 6-7 in conjunction with the Tufts STEM Education Conference.

"The Lego Learning Symposium will include a keynote presentation from Mitchel Resnick, director of the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Lab," according to a news release. "Attendees will gain hands-on experience using Lego Education solutions in the classroom through workshops, teacher talks and dynamic round-table discussions designed to educate and support teachers in building the next generation of creative thinkers and problem solvers."

"Today's classroom environment should reflect the many different ways students learn," said Ethan Danahy, research assistant professor in Tufts University School of Engineering's Department of Computer Science and the school's Center for Engineering Education and Outreach, in a prepared statement. "To accomplish this, we must come together as a community of educators to explore the science behind learning. This symposium and the conference being held at Tufts fosters an environment of collaboration, where teachers can share their experiences using new and creative teaching methods to inspire colleagues from around the world."

At the event, the company will honor the winners of its 2016 Lego Education Teacher Awards. The awards are designed to recognize elementary and middle school educators from around the world who have integrated Lego bricks, curriculum and software across subjects to encourage playful learning.

"We look forward to some exciting days, and we are happy to recognize and honor these talented teachers to encourage them to continue enabling every student to succeed trough playful learning experiences", said Pernille France, senior director of LEGO Education, in a prepared statement.