This document outlines the Lego Serious Play method for facilitating thinking, communication, and problem solving. Participants build models out of Lego blocks to represent ideas and concepts, and then explain their creations to others. The method involves four stages: a build challenge, individual model building, sharing stories about the models in groups, and group reflection. Several examples of build challenges are provided, such as building a tower about oneself or explaining a random structure. The goal is to make abstract ideas tangible and aid discussion through hands-on modeling and storytelling.

1. SWSW 2011 Lego Pile - 2 (cc) EgnaroorangE - http://www.flickr.com/photos/32437467@N00/5545001700/
Learning with Lego
M.J. D’Elia : Creative Making : Toronto 2013

2. Lego Serious Play
theory

3. Lego Serious Play
“a facilitated thinking,
communication and problem
solving technique”

4. LSP 101
• Expertise exists in the room
• Everyone can contribute
• Surface ideas AND plan for action
• Constructionism (Papert)
• “Thinking through your fingers”

5. four stages
• I present a build challenge
• You build your model
• You tell your story to the group
• We ask questions and reflect

6. three challenges
• Tower
• Explain this!
• Three tries

7. tower
build

8. tower: part I (instructions)
• Start with the black base plate
• Build a tower
–Do not mix or trade the pieces
• Time: 3 minutes

9. tower: part II (instructions)
• Make a small change to your tower
so that it tells a story about you
– Where you work…
– Where you live…
– What you do…
– One of your strengths…
• Time: 3 minutes

10. tower: part II (share)
• Get in groups of three
• Explain your tower to your group
• Time: 5 minutes

11. explain this!
build

12. explain this! (instructions)
• Select 15-20 pieces
• Build an interesting structure
• Time: 3 minutes

13. explain this! (share)
• Get in groups of three
–Partner ‘A’ + ‘B’ + ‘C’
• Explain your structure
–Use a topic from the next slide
• Time: 5 minutes

14. list “A” (explain this!)
• Photography
• Nutrition
• The circus
• Electric vehicles
• Moon excavation

15. list “B” (explain this!)
• Military
• Deep sea fishing
• Comics
• Mexican food
• An emergency

16. list “C” (explain this!)
• Monday mornings
• Organic farming
• Funding cutbacks
• A crime scene
• Happiness

17. three tries
build

18. three tries (instructions)
• Three successive builds
–Explain your structure each time

19. three tries (scenario)
ACME Sleds manufactures high quality
sleds and toboggans. You are the lead
designer for their 2014 Super Sled Racer.

20. three tries (challenge #1)
• Build the 2014 Super Sled Racer
–Use the Lego mini-fig (the Lego dude)
–Use the black platform
• Time: 3 minutes

21. three tries (challenge #1)
• Explain the features of your sled
• Time: 2 minutes

22. good news
great reviews
bad news
accidents

23. three tries (challenge #2)
• Build a winter-related product
–Do NOT use the black platform
• Time: 3 minutes

24. three tries (challenge #2)
• Explain your winter-related product
• Time: 2 minutes

25. good news
record sales
bad news
global
warming

26. three tries (challenge #3)
• Build anything you can sell
–Use any part of your inventory
–You CAN use the black platform again
• Time: 3 minutes

27. three tries (challenge #3)
• Explain your new invention
• Time: 2 minutes

28. three tries (debrief)
• Which of the three builds was
easiest for you? Why?
–Sled
–Winter product
–Any product

29. three tries (debrief)
• Sled = many constraints
• Winter product = fewer constraints
• Any product = no constraints

30. Lego Serious Play
wrap up

31. Wrap up
• Make abstract concepts tangible
–Prototype ideas (with bricks)
–Communicate (via stories)
• Laugh

32. Thank you!
M.J. D’Elia
@mjdelia
mdelia@uoguelph.ca
University of Guelph
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