Creating an Innovative Approach to Engagement, Connectivity, and Problem-Solving in Higher Education Institutions Using LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>

LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup> (LSP) was used to understand the ideals of connectivity and inclusivity among students, adult learners, and workers in a higher education community. While connectivity in nature’s ecosystem has been well studied, it is important to ex...

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Main Authors: Cecilia Medupin, Cindy Regalado, Matt Burrows
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Education Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/6/663
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author Cecilia Medupin
Cindy Regalado
Matt Burrows
author_facet Cecilia Medupin
Cindy Regalado
Matt Burrows
author_sort Cecilia Medupin
collection DOAJ
description LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup> (LSP) was used to understand the ideals of connectivity and inclusivity among students, adult learners, and workers in a higher education community. While connectivity in nature’s ecosystem has been well studied, it is important to explore this form of connectivity among humans. The objectives of this study were to determine and analyze the main barriers and enablers of connectivity and inclusivity in higher education teaching, learning, and operations, and to propose key action plans. By using LSP in our study, we explored a kinesthetic approach where participants from diverse age groups (20–56 years) and professional/academic levels built models and shared their stories with others. An evaluation of the workshop was obtained using questionnaires (open-ended and scale-based surveys). All the participants found the LSP useful for the overall experience, indicating a strong overall support for its use. In total, 75% of the participants found it valuable and 50% of the participants found the process “difficult”, particularly in group communication and model representation, which require further refinement. Participants’ responses showed that both affective and cognitive elements were active during the workshop, suggesting that this method encourages all voices to be heard. In addition, the methodology for problem-solving and entertainment is a promising pedagogical and andragogical tool for teaching in higher education and in non-academic settings.
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spelling doaj-art-a3a66169a2d44fa595a686575aea277d2025-08-20T03:27:14ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-05-0115666310.3390/educsci15060663Creating an Innovative Approach to Engagement, Connectivity, and Problem-Solving in Higher Education Institutions Using LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>Cecilia Medupin0Cindy Regalado1Matt Burrows2Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UKTekiu Limited, Huckletree, The Alphabeta Building, 18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH, UKParticipatory Action Research (PAR), School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AB, UKLEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup> (LSP) was used to understand the ideals of connectivity and inclusivity among students, adult learners, and workers in a higher education community. While connectivity in nature’s ecosystem has been well studied, it is important to explore this form of connectivity among humans. The objectives of this study were to determine and analyze the main barriers and enablers of connectivity and inclusivity in higher education teaching, learning, and operations, and to propose key action plans. By using LSP in our study, we explored a kinesthetic approach where participants from diverse age groups (20–56 years) and professional/academic levels built models and shared their stories with others. An evaluation of the workshop was obtained using questionnaires (open-ended and scale-based surveys). All the participants found the LSP useful for the overall experience, indicating a strong overall support for its use. In total, 75% of the participants found it valuable and 50% of the participants found the process “difficult”, particularly in group communication and model representation, which require further refinement. Participants’ responses showed that both affective and cognitive elements were active during the workshop, suggesting that this method encourages all voices to be heard. In addition, the methodology for problem-solving and entertainment is a promising pedagogical and andragogical tool for teaching in higher education and in non-academic settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/6/663LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>connectivityinclusivitystoriescritical thinkingtransferable skills
spellingShingle Cecilia Medupin
Cindy Regalado
Matt Burrows
Creating an Innovative Approach to Engagement, Connectivity, and Problem-Solving in Higher Education Institutions Using LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>
Education Sciences
LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>
connectivity
inclusivity
stories
critical thinking
transferable skills
title Creating an Innovative Approach to Engagement, Connectivity, and Problem-Solving in Higher Education Institutions Using LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>
title_full Creating an Innovative Approach to Engagement, Connectivity, and Problem-Solving in Higher Education Institutions Using LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>
title_fullStr Creating an Innovative Approach to Engagement, Connectivity, and Problem-Solving in Higher Education Institutions Using LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>
title_full_unstemmed Creating an Innovative Approach to Engagement, Connectivity, and Problem-Solving in Higher Education Institutions Using LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>
title_short Creating an Innovative Approach to Engagement, Connectivity, and Problem-Solving in Higher Education Institutions Using LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>
title_sort creating an innovative approach to engagement connectivity and problem solving in higher education institutions using lego sup r sup serious play sup r sup
topic LEGO<sup>®</sup> Serious Play<sup>®</sup>
connectivity
inclusivity
stories
critical thinking
transferable skills
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/6/663
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